This month I can guarantee you will learn more than you expected in TI Life. 1889 Hop! Seaway Review! Tour Boat History! Reinman's Newsstand! Westminster Park! Crab Dib! Santa Comes, Hoar Frost, Asian Carp, Frozen River, Stubborn Sudoku... and more! Check them out first right here in this article.

2018 is drawing to a close  - 129 Articles later! When I started to count the work of so many volunteer authors &nd...

Happy Thanksgiving to our US Islanders! This is a time of year when family and friends enjoy a harvest dinner and of course, Football. November in the Thousand Islands is no different than in other communities – only quieter. Most cottages are now closed and the weather alerts include “freezing rain, and/or Snow flurries!”

This article introduces Jessica Phinney and Nicole Hartshorn. We have two videos showing the weather and we pay tribute to Dave Smith, Grindstone Island. and announces that Santa Claus is coming to town. .

One day last week it was in the high 60s, (21C) and that night it went down to 37F (4C)… Time to close-up and head home! For those of you who live here year-round, you can look forward to no 5:00 p.m. traffic jams, and lots of evenings by the fireplace.

We asked for photographs showing what closing-up means to you… Carl Leuck took his last swim... Trish Tague says, "Don't forget the Yaks." Steve Wilcox says it is time to go "when ya start seeing the cribs." and lots more...

They say we own the River starting in September and I think that is true! Not many sailboats anchored in the bays and little boat traffic. This coincides with back to school, back to the office and meetings!

Check out our Happenings... a dock concert, 1000 Islands Poker Run, working barges and NOAA Water Level charts!

The River is hardly slowing down, and with the wonderful weather, there seem to be more boats...

News: Coal Shoal Lighthouse burning; Piper the Dock Dog update; Visit the Edible Garden update... Many interesting articles this month designed for dock or cockpit reading... Please leave comments and questions!

"There is an App for That… U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the United States launched a new App for those checking in to the U.S. (Both U.S. Citizens and Visitors); The Fireworks Continue - Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands has let off steam trying to approve the new Official Plan. Learn all about it…; Diving? Then Brockville’s Centeen Park is the place to visit this summer. There are now 41 sunken sculptures placed in the St. Lawrence River, and finally --- Church in a Boat? Yes, visit Half Moon Bay…

Summer 2018: Photographs; Louise Ann Ford (1954-2018); SLC Arts News; TILTI Official Plan Approval Postponed; Ship runs aground; River Muse; Stone & South Condos... Yes, lots of news this month. And the weather is not even on my mind...

Rather than weather - family and friends, boats and water sports, fish and even bird watching are top of mind. Let’s all enjoy the start of Summer 2018!

Talk about wind… Friday, May 4th will be one we will not forget… The winds were predicted, but nobody expected the forecast to prove true. The River rose almost to last year's high mark over a couple of hours and receded just as fast and half of Clayton’s Guardino Elementary School’s roof blew to the ground.
But Summer is coming and so are the boats...check out this article for photographs and news items.

We were fortunate to spend Easter weekend on our island. The dock was free of ice, as was our front bay. The back bay still looked frozen solid. Saturday was cold, or crisp, and that night we received the “Wind Alerts” for both Kingston and Clayton. By morning, the clear dock was iced in. Large blocks as well as smaller cubes. (One of us asked where the Scotch was kept.)

Click here to see spring videos, tributes and upcoming events you will not want to miss.

Yes, Summer 2018 is about to start! Read why Ti Life is right behind as the articles this month are all appropriate ... We pay tribute to Rex Ennis, author, historian and Grindstone Islander...
Steve Sturtz shares his Polar Bear Dip and Redwood's Fishing Derby photographs...And we present a terrific video!

This month I am a snowbird in Florida and I now I understand why other snowbirds thank me for TI Life in mid-winter! Sta...

Happy New Year... Want to see winter in the Thousand Islands?

Meet our new contributors, view over a dozen winter photographs, watch Elaine Tack's "Juno's" Video, pay tribute to Jeane Fuller ... be sure to read these Happening in January 2018

The warnings have started with several Clayton Storm Alerts already appearing.

This is a festive month as family and friends make their way down our main streets looking for the perfect gift. Our only suggestion is to stay warm, take time to rest and of course, enjoy our 2017 December issue.

December is a wonderful month to publish TI Life as it is filled with articles that I am sure you will enjoy.

A dozen articles this month - once again our authors and photographers are able to "Put a Thousand Islands in our Life." Ian Coristine announces the 6th Annual Photo Contest, Kara Dunn gives us cold water safety tips...please follow them.

This article also reviews high water discussions keeps the ferry service memories alive as well as memories of a summer ride in a 33' Gar Wood....

Meet this month's new contributors: Maggie Wheeler, John Scott Cowan, Nick Wolochatiuk, and Wayne Strauss.
We pay tribute to three prominent Islanders on both sides of the River: Robert Matthews, Mark Russell, and Mark Hummel. And we present an assortment of October photographs. Yes, lots of Interesting TI Life Happenings this month.

Hurricanes have brought terrible hardship to our friends, and snowbirds may be affected with destruction or the constant worry about friends and family. Words mean little at a time like this, so we wish that you and yours are safe and that you can carry on with your winter plans.

See here: Tributes to Annie Gefell, Andrée Robitaille Wood; info on Mike Holmes; fire in Abay; and Gananoque's Bruce Davis plus photographs.

Yes, August is an interesting month! Although much better, we are still struggling with high water. Make-shift docks are now in place making life on Jet Skis, Water Skis and Paddle Boards back to normal.

In this article, we ask for help identifying a boat now living in Alberta, Canada. We also believe we found a ghost at Boldt Castle...

I received an email after the June issue requesting some articles to cheer us up, the lady was tired of all the bad news on water levels. We think we have hit the mark!

However, there is an editor’s rant - I try not to get opinionated about River life, but this year I keep hearing talk related to issues. Perhaps you have some solutions...

This July 2nd, 2017, Mini Edition of TI Life pays tribute to the 50th Anniversary of the Thousand Islands Arts Center ~ ...

Everyday question: “Is the water still high?” Same Answer today as yesterday: “ Yes, has not moved an inch.” I am sorry that so many are being affected not only by inconvenience but through accidents with broken legs, cracked ribs, and scary dips into the cold St. Lawrence River...

Good news: Gord Brown gets two important pieces of legislation introduced- The Canadian Boating bill has passed and he would like to have rules regarding flares changed.

It is easy to find headlines every day describing the problems of high water on the St. Lawrence River. But in addition to the loss of property and damage to docks and boathouses, is the loss of income for our Island economy.

Boldt Castle has a late opening; tour boats are reducing excursions, and most gas docks are closed until further notice. There is also a grave concern for the next two weeks, as there will be more erosion with wind and waves. Please stay safe – turn off the dock and boathouse power and watch for floating debris.

Our islands should be covered in May flowers, as everyone has remarked about April’s showers!  Hardly a day went by with...

Spring was in the air in February, but March not so much! TI Life Happenings include introductions to Martha Stroud and Joel Charles.
We pay tribute to Gananoque's Mike MacDonald; give updates on the TI Playhouse docks and the Guzzle at TI Park. Doug Tulloch shares his two full moon shots and we have a short video breaking ice.

What an unusual February. Usually, we have a frozen River. This year we have open water, wind, freezing rain and sunshine. and this week SNOW. All part of Winter 2017 in the Thousand Islands.
This month's articles are just as unusual. Check here for videos and photographs and hopefully good news about the border for fishermen.

Yes, a whole new year… and I am still at it! If you had asked me a week ago, I would have told you all was well and I had not a care in the world. But this week my computer crashed! Seems everyone has gone through this and the first question is always… “Did you back it up?” Thankfully I had...

Check out new Happenings in January including a tribute to Doug Tulloch and his Santa Festival, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the watching the skies.

The November issue announces our 5th Annual Photo Contest, pays tribute to some outstanding islanders and introduces four new authors: Paul Hetzler, Walter Fraser, Andrée Robitaille Wood and James Montanus. Learn about Ticks, Clouds, Ghosts, Music, Rock Climbing, Maritime Museum, Photography and of course Sudoku.

Meet Anne Mellon, Clayton's Citizen of the Year; meet Shaggy, a detector dog at the Thousand Islands Port of Entry on Hill Island who discovered 98.8 Kilograms of suspected cocaine and meet the winners of Clayton's Sunflower Contest...plus over a dozen new photographs celebrating Fall 2016.

TI Life in September: check out new River videos and photographs, meet our new contributors and learn the back stories behind the articles - yes, Summer 2016 is over - and what a summer it was. Now we are gearing up for the Fall and there will be lots to see and do on both sides of the River!

Enough already…. We need rain. We want rain. Where is the rain? More than five weeks of sunshine and hot weather has made 2016 holidays better than ever...
And what about TI Life... 13 articles this month. Check this one out for Videos from Mystic Sea Port and Nashville's Mick Fury, who visits Singer Castle and then there are the accidents and incidents...

Where do you find all those articles? A good question, but easy to answer. I think it is amazing… each article comes with a back story.
Lynn and Gary McElfresh wanted to know Where Do Big Old Boats Go to Die? and research gave them some interesting alternatives! Captain Brian Johnson wants some help to find the 1975’s Peanut Gang. Do you recognize any of the old gang?

The Summer 2016 begins officially next week and all of the museums, attractions and marinas are ready to welcome everyone back to the River. What better way to start the summer than with TI Life.
If you lived anywhere near Gananoque on Saturday, June 4th, you would have heard the engines… loud and clear. But suffice to say the excitement was as high as the committee, chaired by Chris McCarney, hoped – and the event was a resounding success!
Chris M. Piering often shares his beautiful photographs on

May was a busy month for the TI Life team; on May 7th, we published a Special Edition to celebrate the opening of Brockv...

My personal story of the Aquatarium... Ian Coristine wrote a tribute note to Simon Fuller on March 1st, the day he visited the Aquatarium. He thanked Simon for his concept and vision...

April showers this year are snow pellets. However, many of us have already opened the cottage and started summer ‘16 with the heat on.
What is happening: Meet our new contributors: Dan Mack, Pete M. Anderson, Lee Willbanks and 10-year-old Janevra Pier - We pay tribute to Sandy Beach Resort’s Gilbert Plaw - We ask if there is a thief on the River? - We present the Empire State Tourism Office video by Horizon Aerials. and more. . .

News from TI Life - Tributes to Bob Clark, Linda Yenawine and Frank Kinsella; three who will be long remembered on the River. Did you see the Nazi submarine story? Meet our new contributors and experience winter in the Islands through photographs (bazillion shells on Potters Beach!)

One of our proofreaders wrote, “HOW do you do it? Each issue is better than the last!!” I wish I could take credit, but I have to say our authors certainly deserve our thanks. Here we are with our mid-winter edition – enjoy this one beside a fireplace, on either side of the River, at a coffee shop near where you work, or if you are lucky, like I am, on a beach!

Open then article and meet our new contributors, see a remarkable historical film and enjoy our February photoraphs.

A new year of TI Life adventures. Blizzards...freezing temperatures…Lake-effect whiteouts and the occasional thaw – represent the first month of the year. No time like the present to enjoy 10 new articles – Enjoy!

Start with two great videos by the McLellan Group and Feather in Flight as well as memorial tributes to Frank Cavallario and Grindstone's Aminta Marks.

Season’s Greetings from our TI Life Team… Lots of news this month: Meet the authors… Citizens of the Year…GAM on Yachting… WPBS Production, 52 Minutes of Islands… and photographs by James Miller, Dennis McCarthy, Joe Meirose, Patrick Simpson, Bob Gates, Ian Coristine and Autumn Kirker.

As we go to press we are learning more about the incredible violence that was struck in Paris on Friday, November 13th. Like so many around the world I find it difficult to express our sense of outrage and sorrow – suffice to say our thoughts are with our Parisian friends.
TI Life Happenings in November include a tribute to the late Mary Dial. We also present two beautiful videos produced by Jeffry Weldon and we share many beautiful photographs.

Each summer I try not to blink in mid-July, for when I do it’s suddenly October.  And, October means Canadian...

End of the Summer – Heat, rain, cold… but somehow these River days can be the best. Lots to report this month... TIERS Campaign; Danger Floating; Tad Clark's Excursion; Story telling on Murray Isle and, yes, fishing. We top it all off with a special September Video.

Updates on the future TI Park building...To call or not to call? That is the question when it comes to border issues... Meet new authors: Paul Coté (Gananoque), Joe & Libby Burkle, (Washington State), Dan LeKander, (Wellesley Island) and Matthew Berry, (14 yrs old and from Kingston). Also meet my Australian friend, Alan Smith and his kangaroo. Top it off with photos of summer happenings in the 1000 Islands...

Lots to report in this article... Bios for six new contributors - Trish Buote, Mary Politis, Paul Holland, Blu Mackintosh, Camille Crandall and Robert Neulieb. Parks Canada receives $7.7 Million! and what to do on Saturday's in July!

1) Reporting requirements for private boaters. 2) Bobbie Trimble will be missed. 3) Thomas K. Hunt's new book of poetry. 4) Facebook's new Thousand Islands River Views. 5) Never too late for comments! and 6) topped off with a slide show by Chirs Piering. Yes, Summer 2015 is here! Do share TI Life with family and friends.

What a difference a month makes – Mid May - Not swimming yet, but windows open... Top Five Happenings: TI Park Rebuild; 1000 Islands Tower 50th; Water Levels; Remember the Canadian Postman? Bad News for TI Life. And meet our new contributors Joan Delaney, Brian Fay & Chris Murray, Robert Daly and Barry Keefe.

Ice breakers have gone through, the rain and wind have done their part - so yes - we will be back on the River very soon. This article provides news of Gan's Contractor's Dock; Cape Vincent's Snow Sculptures and we share a video and photographs... Enjoy!

Spring is in the air… Truly… This editor spent the winter in the sunny south – so I join our readers in thanking those who stayed home to share news and photographs! You can see them here... Also we present a video of Singer Castle in the winter... and ideas for a night out in the spring in the Thousand Islands.

Midwinter – reports of too much snow,  record breaking low temperatures and Interstate pile-ups.  Howeve...

Meet our January contributors... Watch a video of Roaring Ice... Pay tribute to special Islanders...and visit 1000 Islands communities in winter photographs.. All here in Happenings, January 2015.

Each year's December issue is my favorite. Thanks to Ian Coristine our TI Life’s 3rd Annual Photo Contest winners were chosen from over 160 entries.Richard (Dick) Withington tells us about Nylons Hanging in the Shower...Lynn gives us a TEST and there is lots more!

November 11th allows us to pause for Remembrance Day in Canada and Veterans Day in the US.  Then many of us pause again ...

Canadian Thanksgiving and Columbus Day Weekend truly signals the end of Summer, 2014.  Mother Nature was kind with ...

What a summer… high water, some picture perfect days… family and friends!  Now we head into the fall ...

When we published this August issue, we just learned of the fire on August 14th, on Wellesley Island at the corner of St. Lawrence Avenue and Rainbow Street east, home of the Guzzle. Our thoughts are with all those whose summer-lives are touched by this tragic event. Luckily there were no injuries, however the Park lost its Fire Station and equipment. I find the footage difficult to watch, but it is important...

Check out our July Happenings… Independence fireworks, beautiful photographs and our US Donate Button is now working! Also take advice from a pro - "Click on articles that may not seem as interesting - you will be surprised."

Check out Island Happenings here. Want to see the islands from above? Check out Flyboarding, Helicopters or Tower views… A rant about parking… Meet our new contributors and more… Yes, June has arrived - the weather is beautiful, water levels are perfect and everyone is returning to the River all equal Summer 2014.

Click here to see an array of Spring photographs… meet five new contributors... The new book "Tall Ships of the Thousand Islands" and notice for the 15th Biennial Quilt Show; plus news about Cross Island Farm, a new twitter to follow @SeawayNNY and a new Point Vivian website…

Click here to see how the icebreaker makes its way through the Islands, learn about a new kickstarter program, and see photographs of spring. This winter we had to wait several weeks to find open water, in fact the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway was delayed and there are still inches of ice in bays and small channels in the river.

Open this article to see Winter 2014… Also we link to a Romantic video where a young man asks a young women to take the plunge… jump in the freezing water and get married.. She accepted both.

Open this article to go for a walk on black ice with Kenny Brabant or see “1000 Reasons to do Business in Gananoque”. Get ready to take your snowmobile on a popular winter trail and think what it is like to be a farmer on Wellesley Island. Plus a dozen photographs…

While not as devastating as the Ice Storm 1998, Ice Storm December 2013, caused massive power outages across the North Country and most of Southern and Eastern Ontario. Coming on December 22 and 23rd, so close to Christmas added extra hardship as roads were closed and people were asked to remain in their homes.

Thanks for putting a Thousand Islands in your life in 2013 and we wish you and your family a happy and joyous 2014. The...

Last year at this time we were wishing those hit by the hurricane Sandy a speedy and safe recovery, this month we know t...

For many, Canadian Thanksgiving and the US Columbus Day weekend signal an end to summer. For those still on the River, please beware of low water, frequent storms, and the promise of frost. This TI Life in October article brings you beautiful Fall photographs, a RiverQuest update, exciting videos and introduces our new contributors.

4,913 subscribers, 170+ authors, 700+ articles. 5000+ photographs and a very happy editor. This is my 60th issue.
Created in 2006 by the late Paul Malo, “TI Life” is certainly something for which our team can be proud.

Tad Clark’s "Boat Shoes" made me laugh; He is right, we all need them, have them and keep them. Deane Parkhurst made me realize you can travel a long way from the River but memories will bring you back -.But “TI Life in August” will be remembered for the Awesome Video created for 1000 Islands RiverQuest by Doug McLellan (Lake Fleet’s Wood Isle) - full screen, sound up and enjoy!

I call this issue TI Lite in July…  Thinking of sitting at a computer, when we really want to be out on the River. ...

June is here – more water in the River - they say it will be a hot summer (Ya, sure…) and the June issue is filled to the brim with history and happenings.
Click here to see three videos: Love your Park Day; Clayton Diving Club and “Old River Stories" with Alan Newell and Everett Smith...

Freshwater Jellyfish in the Thousand Islands?... “Border fee for Canadians banned by U.S. Senators…” Yes, lots of news in this “TI Life in May 2013.” Plus dozens of photographs representing Spring 2013 - the moon, sunsets, even a dinner party for 30! New contributors and your favorites including Lynn McElfresh and Brian Johnson.

Lots of news … First, take a stand-up Jet-Ski ride over ice and water… Our Kim Lunman writes for "BoatUSA" and I introduce our April contributors. The Canadian Park Islands have a new name and we have an update on water levels. We thank those who leave comments for they often lead to new stories about the 1000 Islands…

Do you want wind turbines near your island home? Do you worry about water levels? This article provides some thoughts. We also introduce new contributors and share photographs of those places you like the most! It is our largest issue to date.

This month’s issue is special. When Hunter Grimes sent his "An essay which is not all about hunting and guns…" I realized right away this was a MUST READ. I got just as enthused when Bill Munro agreed to provide "Nature/Outdoor Photography… We pay tribute to the late Myrna Clark and William (Bill) Browning – and photographers give us pictures

This is one of our most ambitious issues… 13 articles… over 130 photographs, special videos including one created on YouTube for TI Life, Seaway 2012, history, an excursion, a book review… and the launch of RiverQuest...Then, ever wonder what was here before? We introduce new Facebook pages featuring vintage photographs … and we show snowbirds how winter 2013 has started..

Thanks for putting a thousand islands in your life in 2012 and we wish you and your family a happy and joyous 2013. The...

As we launch there are still thousands in NJ, CT, NY, and NYC, suffering from the loss of family, power, homes, and livelihoods - we extend our heartfelt thoughts..... Everyone deserves a “last hit of Summer” so thanks to Great Lake Swimmers give us a new music video… Watch it now!

We pay tribute to Chef Gerry and Diane Brinkman, who will not be returning to operate the Wellesley Hotel in 2013.Islanders, mainland residents and visiting mariners are saddened to hear this news…We celebrate the MarCom Award given to “One in a Thousand” and we have pictures of the low water…

Yes, that is a truck you see...It was caught on camera by Martin Zonnenberg as the Grindstone Island Barge made its way across the River... We introduce a new book by Chris Brock and poetry by Fred Schmidt... Lots more in this month's issue, enjoy.

From the Editor: Do you remember the weather in summer 2011? Well, 2012 has to date, been hotter, sunnier and dryer. So, we are cheering for some(more) rain, particularly for our farming communities. We will soon find out how serious the drought has been for the area, but it has made family reunions, weddings and fundraising events a great success...

Nothing screams summer like hot weather, lazy days, motor boats, swimming, fishing, and ice cream! Summer is here! This article will introduce our new contributors, introduce the Plein Air Painters and even provides a job opportunity... and as the summer progresses, we suggest you will take along your camera, smart phone or tablet and take photographs to share with TI Life.

This article is both a celebration of the start of summer 2012 and a rant about copyright law. One of our authors discovered that a new, Thousand Islands history book has photographs and text that she had originally written for our e-zine.

Did you see the super moon… you can imagine what it looked like rising and setting over the Thousand Islands. Magnificent. This month we present a miracle in photographs, professional golfing news, warn about ticks, question water levels and more…

When I learned that Ian Coristine was writing a new book I got excited. As perhaps one of his most devoted fans (his contributions to Thousand Islands Life are immeasurable), I decided...

A lot to report this month. I discovered that one of the leading Crime Writers Festivals takes place on Wolfe Island. We present more than a dozen winter photographs and a sneak preview to Ian Coristine's "One in a Thousand". One of the biggest news stories is the announcement of the largest real estate transaction in the Thousand Islands with the sale of Eagle Point properties.

It’s mid-winter but it does not feel like it as there is little snow, even in the North Country. In this article we have some lovely images from photographers: Lillian and Paul Cooledge, Dennis McCarthy, Fred Guild, and Debbie Hirshey. We also introduce a new page, "Excursions", with a "Ride up the Rideau" by Tad Clark and invite readers to join our twitter @TILife.

Happy New Year! This article introduces a muskie hunter, provides a link to tracking a bald eagle named Hal, looks back on Buoy Bobbing and provides many ways to enjoy winter in the North Country. We thank Ian Coristine for his new “headers” and Lillian and Paul Cooledge for sharing their photographs. And finally, the River is quiet which gives us time to read about it

As a gift in December we present History, Poetry, Diving Escapades and 22 Photographs by Thousand Islands photographers. We also pay tribute to Don Ross, new "Keeper of the Islands" and to the late John King and Captain Richard (F.E.) Fawcett. Enjoy this issue and please forward it to a friend.

We have just completed our Canadian Thanksgiving. We remember cooking our turkey on a cold icy morning, or a windy and blustery day, but this past weekend was just like summer 2011 – warm, sunny and far too nice to be putting on shutters or closing down the water system!

I want to take this opportunity, on behalf of our fellow islanders, our cruising sailors, and the nearby mainlanders, to thank all the marina operators, local business ...

September signals the end of Summer … We introduce music by Peg Dolan in a Dennis McCarthy YouTube video; new contributors and two new books. We also report sad news of the deaths of Michael Mead from Grindstone Island and Peter Hendley from Grenell Island. . .

Q&A:  (1) How many of you sat on your deck (cottage/boat/cockpit) and watched the world go by? Answer: Everyone...

Almost everyone has heard about the border problems.  Concerned citizens on both sides of the River have sent lette...

TI Life in June gives this editor the opportunity to introduce this month’s articles and provide River news - which includes photographs of the Cornwall Brothers Store Museum which lost its roof in the June 8th storm. There is much more... a poem, "Otter's Claim" by Joan A Kimball and a very special letter to the editor… and MikeCox,our volunteer web magician, added a slide show feature to the site this month.

Thousand Islands Life Magazine presents 12 articles this month…  something for everyone!  Not only are the art...

There is something special about March. The luck of the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, Daylight Savings Time, and yes, the days are getting longer! If you, like many others, have been trying to convey to friends and family elsewhere just how exceptional the Thousand Islands really are, now have two new ways to do it.

In December, we received Dan Denney’s "Through the Ice - a Tale of Survival". Not only does he explain how dangerous it can be to drive on river and/or lake ice, he gives us techniques for survival which he had to learn the hard way! January's issue also presents history, photographs and more...

Yes summer is almost over, but what a great one we have had! Throughout the summer we collected photographs from our readers both on "TI Life" and from our Facebook site, and we share some here. We also congratulate Ian Coristine for winning a 2010 Benny Award for his book, "The very best of Ian Coristine's 1000 Islands"...

July is vacation time and hopefully you are not sitting at your computer but instead enjoying these truly hot, hazy, crazy days of summer. For that reason in July we publish TI Life ‘Lite'. And to help you enjoy the summer, do check this article as we share a new slide show of the Thousand Islands, created by Ian Coristine with the music of Great Lake Swimmers...

What a month! Wonderful weather, still going from hot to cold, but some rain and the water level is slightly higher. In addition to introducing our stories, we present links to two great videos. Our Readers Exchange allows us to answer a number of inquiries... This month we also present several follow-up articles. The first is a result of interesting comments about last month’s article by Kim Lunman

On June 6th subscriber number 3,000 joined TI Life! This month we introduce Capt. Brian Johnson, Robert S. Miner and William Worden and welcome back Phil Chadwick, Kim Lunman, Michael Whittaker, James Rapport and Ian Coristine.

Trilliums and Beavers are a sure sign of spring. Sagastaweka Island, has thousands of trilliums to welcome us back to the River and at least one industrious beaver. The first I adore, the latter not so much! Actually there are now other worries for islanders to consider and the list is long...

TI Life has a new "Readers' Exchange" where we welcome your short stories of seven-hundred words, or less. Our first sto...

A proposed anchor tourism attraction for the Thousand Islands is a huge step closer to opening its doors on Brockville’s...

Our house is built on a rock in a river. So begins "Of Time and an Island", a love letter to the Thousand Islands penne...

What’s happening? The December issue of our magazine comes to you with a new look!

Imagine asking the US residents on Washington Island, in Clayton, NY, to change the island’s name back to its original: ...

HILL ISLAND - Bud Andress grabs his binoculars and hops on the Jet-Ski at the dock of his St. Lawrence River home to go ...

Tourism became a booming business for the Thousand Islands region, in the 1870s, after the beauty of the area was public...

The 2018 Seaway season was rather smooth sailing. Reports of groundings or lock damage were minimal, while the amount...

The Westminster Park Board of Trustees carefully planned every aspect of their new island community: the placement of th...

When the thermometer starts dipping into negative values at night, and only rises into the single digits in the day, the...

The newsstand was a compact little store with a loyal year-round clientele. They came by every day for their newspapers, pipe and chewing tobacco,

Two species of Asian carp, bighead and steel carp, are daunting invasive fish, weighing 80 to 100 pounds. They jump when frightened, which can injure...

While this may appear at first glimpse to be a very simple and straightforward photo, there were three deliberate decisi...

As we begin a new year, let’s pause and ask ourselves how we would evaluate our Sudoku skills. You could be a begi...

  Although boats have been washed-up, wrapped-up and winterized, true boaters are still living and breathing the...

It’s always the same, a painful pleasure. Pleasure seeing new views of the River through so many others’ eye...

The Sheriff of Grenell sounds like something out of Robin Hood, doesn’t it? But once upon a time, Grenell Island h...

In the decade after World War II the kids at Butternut Bay didn’t have much to do … all we did was play, sw...

It starts with a picture on Facebook’s Thousand Islands River Rats Now and Then page, back a couple of months ago....

Two years ago, December 2016, I wrote a Book Review: for First Responder, by Dr. Richard Withington. I related that when...

Last month’s installment of the stories of the early families of Westminster Park detailed the history of the cott...

Many have a Bucket List, but artist Brenda Clarke found someone else’s Bucket List that has taken her on a wonderf...

Ok, so it is cold outside, and/or it is “another sunny day” in Florida… What to do? You should be concentrating on work,...

They had come home, well some of them had.

Jean was 16 now, almost dix sept. He could remember all the parades and the flags...

T. I. LIFE PUZZLE FOR DECEMBER 2018   This holiday Sudoku Puzzle will warm your heart and take your mind off ...

Introduction:  Linda Twichell likes to share recommendations of those books she thinks should be on a Thousand I...

  Winter has come early this year. As I write this article, the temperature outside is hovering around 0 degrees...

There is nothing better than sharing Holiday enchantment with your children, family and friends. Enjoying great food, dr...

The River teaches us lessons and I learned mine one night while ki-YAKKING—thankfully without catastrophic

It’s that time of year again when you can help build a greater understanding and appreciation of the River through TI Li...

Patriot Chronicles: Two Loyalist Recollections of the Battle of the Windmill 2018 marks the 180th anniversary of the ...

We all know the adage: “Don’t believe everything you read in newspapers.” Nevertheless, the nineteenth...

During the early 1900s, the Thousand Islands were a beehive of activity. Yacht Clubs and Hunt Clubs sprung up from Cape ...

All artifacts and furniture are wrapped, stored and/or covered for the spring...

    Being November, with Thanksgiving around the corner, it is a good time to be thankful for Sudoku. It...

My name is Nicole Hartshorn, THE RIVER GAL.   I am a wife, mother of two small children and author of” RIVER ENTERTAININ...

It has been said that art is a product of human skill and imagination.

A native of Watertown NY, Dr. Robert W. Daly has been a summer resident of Shady Shores, Town of Clayton since 1949.

Sometime in August — just as the summer season is coming to a close — five River women set aside a day just ...

The Thousand Islands Cup was established once again this summer to celebrate the rich racing heritage of the Chippewa Ya...

From its inception, the Westminster Park Community was spurred along by the astute cultivation of a relationship with th...

By Richard F. Palmer Whatever happened to Theodore Gegoux’s painting of the palatial steamboat St. Lawrence dur...

My name is Julie Woods and I have been a summer student employed by The Arthur Child Heritage Museum (ACHM) in Gananoque...

If you google “Hockey and culture” in Canada you will find, ”Ice Hockey: A symbol of Canada, a nationa...

The beginning of the season… What do you do on your way to the Thousand Islands? For Ryan Leiberher, the ride...

In late July, I met Susan G. Mathis at a Writer’s Day held at the Cornwall Bros. Museum in Alexandria Bay. In June...

Experience the power of the 6 with puzzle #45! PUZZLE #45 D...

“Who lives in that cottage over there?” guests often ask as they point across the water at the cottage acros...

Explosive storm on the River last night! I thought I was going to be capturing it way off in the distance, but suddenly

Save the River’s program brings many successes and new challenges Common tern with dinn...

The world’s greatest avian travelers are in trouble. The Earth’s populations of sandpipers, plovers and thei...

I arrived at Canoe Point by kayak from Thousand Island Park and offered to pay the $6-day use fee. The friendly staff provided a Thousand Islands Land Trust (TILT) brochure, information on the winery, and some local knowledge ...

Fire claimed another notable house in the Thousand Islands, this time on the north shore of Grindstone Island. A call wa...

The stories of the network of Westminster Park’s families continue to unfold: The Northrup’s, the Peckham&rs...

A dear friend gave me a book about angels recently. I thought to myself, I have never read of anyone telling about their...

Your September Sudoku puzzle brings you another challenge, now that the River has calmed … ...

Families on both sides of the border express their sincere sadness upon hearing about a freak accident that took the lif...

In the 1960s, the Beach Boys were crooning about California Girls. But in the late 19th century, a young man’s tho...

“This article is dedicated to Ken Deedy, the visionary conservationist to whom the songbirds owe a debt of gratitu...

Last month we told of the influence of Rev. Dr. Philemon H. Fowler, minister of the Utica Presbyterian Church, in recrui...

The good folks of Trinity Anglican Church, in Marysville, Wolfe Island, first introduced me to Dog-strangling Vine (DSV)...

This is my story. I grew up in Toronto, went to Queen’s University in Kingston, graduating in 1962 in Engineering....

Anyone who knows the Mondores also knows that my husband and I love to hike! And we especially love to hike the Thousand...

When the impossible becomes possible … PUZZLE #43 DA...

While walking through the woods one day… in the merry month of July… We had a nice surprise a few weeks...

So, family members and/or friends are coming to share our special brand of paradise. While the River is the perfect &ldq...

  “The App for Recreational Boaters…Navigate Confidently…Find your Friends… Explore n...

Independence Day, or the Glorious Fourth, was a hugely celebrated affair back in the Gilded Age. Congress didn’t d...

“No problems – Only solutions,” is the motto that  Gananoque Lions Club president, Susan Tunnicli...

The founders of Westminster Park were savvy entrepreneurs. They carefully laid a framework for the community, establishi...

Editor’s note:  Many in the region already know Colin Slack, but we suggested that he explain how he started ...

Have you ever walked across the Thousand Islands Bridge? I’ve been crossing that bridge for the past 60 years (...

The late Paul Malo, who was an emeritus professor of architecture a Syracuse University, created Thousandislandslife.com...

New York Sea Grant reminds those of us who have dogs, who love the water, to be alert to the danger that harmful algal b...

This month we return to a Sudoku puzzle format that will be most recognizable to you. As always, the puzzle will require...

When was the last time you saw a rainy day postcard? Sure, we all like the postcard view of the world. The one where the...

The summer of ’78 was in full swing. The weather was superb, mid 80’s during the day, with low humidity, upp...

Perspective, in history, is everything. Aerial photography captures a River being transformed by the Seaway...

Last fall I was at a friend’s studio and he asked if I would like to go have a beer at Foxy’s, I was in a hurry...

If you don’t know Ken Deedy, you have heard of him. And if you haven’t heard of him, you have still been tou...

Interested in getting out on the water this summer, but not ready to buy a boat of your own? New York Sea Grant and the...

In November of 1875, articles appeared in newspapers across Northern New York State, announcing the intent of the Presby...

This is a puzzle to remember! Expect an unexpected twist and turn. Puzzle #41 ...

We bought our 14 ft. AMF Puffer sailboat in 1983; I was in my twenties. As a teen growing up in landlocked Central Illin...

It’s official. Summer has arrived in the 1000 Islands and soon so will Island Life. The new issue of Island Life M...

I was born in Watertown, New York, so my birth certificate says, but my heart says I was born on the St. Lawrence River....

On October 2, 2002, North Country Public Radio’s broadcast included one very sad story titled “A-Bay Hospital to Close”....

(A story of how the author’s grandmother came to live a Thousand Islands life in the 1940’s, told in her voi...

As with other people who are from the community of Gananoque, I was shocked to hear of the sudden and untimely passing o...

After the Irish Potato Famine in 1852, my family immigrated to Wolfe Island. I thought crossing the ocean was tough, but...

(Excerpted from The Secrets Behind the Structures, by John Reisinger) The Castle on Dark Island: The world’s on...

Friends & Family challenge … perhaps teach your family or friends how to achieve success with difficult Sudok...

The St. Lawrence Islands National Park, established in 1904, is the oldest Canadian national park east of the Rockies. L...

We were lying on our west rock last summer, soaking up sunshine and listening to the squeals of delight from children sw...

As a young girl growing up in Brownville, New York, becoming a 1000 Islands tour boat captain certainly wasn’t one of Br...

It is interesting to note that the rise and fall of the water level of Lake Ontario is not some strange phenomenon that ...

...In August 1891, plans for the new chapel at Westminster were accepted by the Trustees. Dr. Jamieson,

To insiders, the North Country of upstate New York refers to the 1000 Islands region in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrenc...

I want to warn our readers that the December issue of TI Life may be late this year. Why? Our IT magician, Mike Cox will...

Give Me the Lines that Nature doth Hold; Give me the fringe That fingers a beach.

In 2014, my mom and I took a fact-finding trip to Wolfe Island. I was writing my debut novel, “The Fabric of Hope:...

T. I. LIFE PUZZLE FOR APRIL 2018 Last month we looked at a time saving aspect of Puzzle Preparation. I have been aske...

I never know what I might find when I go fishing, but I never expected to find a sea serpent, with three-inch teeth. Tha...

On any given summer weekend, a passer-by to East End Park, in Cape Vincent, may see 10 to 20 scuba divers entering or ex...

Old Joe – rolled his own. Maybe Joe worked thirty years for my grandparents – no matter exactly how many years. What is...

For most of my life, I experienced the Thousand Islands only during the summer months. Many of my earliest and fondest m...

In 1875 a consortium of Presbyterian ministers and businessmen announced their intention to build a summer community on ...

I Through the St. Lawrence Seaway story, runs a current of movement that goes beyond water. It is a story of risin...

My story is not unusual as there are many like-minded Facebook enthusiasts who create social media accounts.  I hap...

Yoga is for everybody, and the benefits are immeasurable. Many years ago, while living in California, I discovered yoga ...

This month we are going on a journey, to add the finishing touches to Puzzle Preparation. You might say that this is the...

One of the most notorious bootleggers, on eastern Lake Ontario and the upper St. Lawrence River during in the ‘Roa...

Fishing may have put the Thousand Islands on the map, but in the late 19th century, it was religion that organized the r...

My sweet dad, George G. Wilson went to his Heavenly Home on 1/23/18. He was 92 years old. One of the last questions he a...

On the morning of July 21, 1928, residents of Oswego, New York awoke to find the former convict ship Success, moored in ...

In 1819 the Hamlet of Oak Point in the Town of Hammond, New York was settled by George Elliot. Mr. Elliott purchased fif...

In the summer of 1947, 78-year-old Charlie Lyon patiently waited for the launch of his custom Hutchinson runabout, Pardo...

LIDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is a remote sensing method used to survey and map the surface of th...

Maple Month in the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands… Yes, as the saying goes - we’re tapping-out ...

We received the list of summer events planned for The Bay, from the Alexandria Bay Chamber of Commerce. So mark the c...

Perhaps, make this month a couples Valentine Sudoku puzzle and enjoy it together. Good idea? ...

“Now for God’s sake hold on a while. You make me so nervous and I can’t stand the pressure. If you must steal, steal from someone else..."

You could say it all started on December 28, just days before the Seaway was set to close for the season, as Pacific Huron, a 623-foot ocean-going vessel, ran aground

Steve Stone and Jill Matson swing into action again in this contemporary thriller and historical mystery...

The water, after six decades, remains silenced. This year marks the sixtieth anniversary of the completion of the St....

The Macsherry’s interest in the library began almost 100 years before with the establishment of the Holland Library by the family’s ancestor, J. G. Holland.

I have to admit that I hesitated writing this piece, not wanting to ruffle feathers, but the experience was just too ric...

Happy New Year everyone! Time to sharpen our pencils and break out the Sudoku puzzles. Speaking of puzzles, the puzzle t...

The Hospital’s many success stories reveal its “heart”; its love of humanity.

The soft, gentle hand of fog settles rarely on the St. Lawrence, but when it does, the character of the River changes.

I look forward to each year’s photo contest, with a mixture of delight and dread. Delight because it gives me a th...

So I made my choices for the 2017 Thousand Islands Life Photo Contest. Now you can make yours. Each of these images earn...

My favorite historic picture of our island was taken in the early 1890s in a cluster of rocks outside the backdoor of ou...

It was a bright and breezy, late-Spring-at-the-River day, the first time we saw The Boat - frozen in space, if not time

There must be something in the St. Lawrence air or water that gives special skills to a particular breed of River Rats w...

Ian woke with a start! There were strange noises and it was cold, very, very cold and crisp. He peeked out from under...

Can you believe this is the last issue of T. I. Life for 2017?  Let’s hope for a long and enjoyable River sea...

The objective of this article is not a comprehensive history of catamarans. It is in fact an attempt to provide the hist...

Canadian ship struggled getting in and out of small harbors Editor”s Note:  The TI Life R...

While my wife and I, along with our three kids, certainly look forward to our annual summer vacations in the 1000 Island...

“Hey Susie, have you seen this?” asked Bill, “No! Then look, and tell me Where and Why?” The ...

The first year we were married, husband Gary decided to build a boat in our living room. The idea seems absurd now, but ...

I think it’s safe to say that all of us enjoy seeing scenes of our River, especially when the season has chased us...

Come friends and relations and neighbours I prayYou will give your attention to the words I shall sayO poor Moses Dulmag...

From the Editor:  Just after we went live with our October 2017 issue of TI Life, I received this email. Hi, S...

Enjoying the River until freeze up! River enthusiasts who stay year-round are hardy souls well-prepared for cooler te...

“We would not have those magnificent wooden boats, without having those unique architectural heritage island homes...

I was intrigued when I received Kristen Taylor’s press release: Introducing Wellspring Meditation Meditation...

The 12th Armored Division was activated on 15 September 1942.[5] Organization and initial training was at Camp Campbell,...

Can you help identify where these photographs may have been taken? And better still who are the people pictured?

How do we start to thank Robert L. Matthews (Bob) for the 25 articles he wrote for TI Life? Robert died on October 1, 20...

Fall is in the air - it’s time to button down the cottage for another year. But, suppose on that last trip to the ...

Meet Maggie Wheeler Imagine being known as the Seaway Valley's Queen of Crime! Maggie Wheeler, popular l...

Canadian students learn about Confederation, and most of them believe that Canada ceased to be a colony and became a country...

As boat traffic ebbs, we can enjoy the peace, quiet & beauty of the River. September was a month to relish. Almost every...

I'm here again, my friend. What a nice day! The River's so bright... almost too pretty to put you to sleep...

“Thomas K. Hunt, a poet, grew up in Clayton, NY, and says this is where his roots will be, forever! ...

In 1957, I started a new phase in life. I became a ninth grader. I entered the high school experience at Clayton Central...

When I titled my June TIL article, “The Year of the Boots,” I didn’t imagine then that I would need to...

This article is written with three purposes in mind: Pay tribute to Rexford Manton Ennis, from Grindstone Island, ...

Many people think that a summer home on an island is a posh luxury of the privileged few.  In fact, island life, fo...

Have you ever noticed that, in particular cases, something has a name which is just so spot on? Like a big, friendly Gol...

Day by day the vessel grew, With timbers fashioned strong and true. Mr. Kinghorn’s new composite steam...

Edith Lunt Small captured our River - like no other - on canvas, paper and wood. Edith, known as Edie to her friends, wa...

The natural world is ever fluctuating within limits. This was once true of water levels on the Eastern Great Lakes and S...

What is it about the Thousand Islands region of the Saint Lawrence River that inspires a quiet sense of wonder” Ce...

Brambles catch my clothing and prick my arms. My feet slide in my sandals, wet from the dew. As the bright sun strengthe...

As we approach fall, it is difficult to believe the St. Lawrence River summer season is coming to an end.   Ma...

I often wish I had a time machine, to transport me back, to see what life was like on Grenell in past times. Several yea...

After our first good night’s sleep in two days, when we begin our journey home, there is time now to tell you of o...

[Editor’s Note:  I added “thank goodness”, and commend John Reisinger for following the story. Ma]...

Fernfield was my grand parents last home on the mainland after they left Grenell Island.  I fell in love with water...

I love learning about the history of the Thousand Islands and its many communities. And I am not alone.  At the end...

I have a tough time finding books about the Thousand Islands that I do not like, so rating them from 1-10 is difficult. ...

Do you think that an organization you join today, in 2017, will be around in 2051? About 1983, Henry Vyfvinkel envisione...

Editor’s Note: Author John Hawthorne saw an article on TI Life that related to a Float Plan.  He had ju...

Editor’s Note:  Finding an email from Robert Matthews is always a delight. This one started with his suggesti...

T. I. LIFE SUDOKU PUZZLE FOR AUGUST 2017 Last month, the bonus puzzle was in quite a different format. The given answ...

“For I’d rather be thy child and pupil in the forest wild” Henry Thoreau Solitude. I hear the ri...

Even before we heard about the high water, we were alerted that we had beaver damage on our property. Our trees have ...

I love our place on the River at every moment of the day, but there is something extra special about sitting on the deck after the sun

(Next time you want a day off.. you don’t have to get dressed up..)Convenience and flavor have made the takeout dinner a...

An electronic survey to report the impact of high water is now online for property owners on the New York side...

“Tom & I have been vacationing on the River since 1998, with our four children & their friends.” sta...

Butternut Bay …. Religion .... good old fashioned God fearing, bible thumping religion .... played a huge role in...

“Of course.” he said, “but the technique may not be what you expect. You see, I use...

Have you visited the Tallest Cathedral Ceiling?  We bill the tiny Half Moon Bay, carved out of the granite during t...

Think bare feet, summer mudpuddle giddy splash. Think horizonward wading, Punctuated by perfect-pebble, smooth-she...

Have fun with the new Bonus Section following this month’s puzzle!Puzzle #27First, we will revisit the approach as discu...

What do boat builders, fishing guides, rum runners, marina businesses and many others have in common? Come to Rockpor...

Welcome to the Thousand Islands Arts Center's 2017 season and a year that will celebrate our 50th anniversary! ...

The Thousand Islands Arts Center ~ Home of the Handweaving Museum is celebrating its 50th birthday throughout the year w...

It all began at the Thousand Islands Museum, then located in what is today the Clayton Opera House.  Yes, three of ...

Weaver, Teacher and Fan of the River: Emily Kent Post, 1900-1978 Emily Post, a Master Weaver from Princeton, New Jers...

Yes, indeed, there is an Arts Center in Clayton; the result of 50 years of commitment, imagination, and generosity. Y...

Editor’s note: How do you say thanks? Who to ask and where to start?  Those were my questions when I started ...

I love the classes TIAC offers.  I have participated in several – classes I would not have ever experienced, ...

Thank goodness we bought our boots in Florida and brought them north with us. From what we’ve heard it’s hard to find bo...

Throughout the month of June, updates on water levels are top of mind. As we publish the June issue of TI Life, we recei...

It started snowing around noon. By midafternoon, the small white farmhouse was all but invisible in a blinding bli...

What do you get when you put a determined individual, who wants to make a difference together with some owners of the bi...

There’s a new eatery in town. The Spoon and Brassie offers an innovative restaurant experience to match our casual...

The Thousand Island Park Landmark Society will be hosting the 17th Historic Cottage and Garden Tour on July 20th, from 9...

River Projects Receive Great Lakes Research Consortium Funding Projects focused on St. Lawrence River habitat and wat...

Wing’ed Beauty   Dragonfly, you wing’ed beauty, Light upon my finger, please. S...

Witness the twisted turns of this month’s Sudoku journey! Puzzle #26 F...

The article may be redundant to those who have read my biography of Charles G. Emery, but a review can be constructive. ...

Editor’s Note:  Robert Matthew, from Fishers Landing, NY, suggested we create a Did You Know? section, for it...

The transition from our home in Florida to Grenell in mid-May is sometimes a jarring experience. Last May, our first mor...

Buy it, read it, and keep it on the bookshelf!  My review in a nutshell – great book. However, there is a story behind ...

The islands along the St Lawrence almost seemed to shiver in the night as an icy wind whipped through the trees and shre...

Eight years since TI Life first reported on Wolfe Island’s wind turbines, additional industrial wind development i...

If you want to find happy, come to Topsy Farms on Amherst Island for the sheep shearing. Photographs by Steve Sturtz

 The first time Doreen Garrett drove by the Fairview Manor, the restaurant had just closed its doors permanently. &...

1960. It doesn't seem that long ago to those of us who spent time at AUBREY'S THOUSAND ISLAND BOWLING CENTER (Bo...

Editor’s Note: When we started this series, I never thought Dan LeKander would give us 25 Puzzles, and if we don&r...

The Questions are thought- provoking for those Jefferson County young people between the ages of 5 – 25 who apply for th...

Oh Old Barn how much time is left to sit on pail bottoms and chat? How many more directions will begin with the w...

“In case I meet someone who wants me to write for them,” I said out loud, to no one in the room. My neighbors were at th...

If you are convinced the Double-crested Cormorant is a demon bird, sent from the dark side to gobble up all OUR fish, th...

Pam McKinnon has every right to paint what she likes on or beside the St. Lawrence River. You see she is a genuine River...

One hundred years ago, in April 1917,  during the World War I Battle of Vimy Ridge in France, Thain Wendell MacDowell, a...

Chauncey Burtch is a name that comes up often in the tales told in Chippewa Bay. Cap, as he was known, was the man behin...

In the early nineteenth century, the world’s fancy was captured by the sport of competitive rowing. By the 1870’s, it wa...

Six guys from a local firehouse ditch their significant others, schedule time off work, buy more food than they need for...

Yes, we are applying environmental science: from crude oil transport boating to teaching the next generation. The St....

Our theme this month is “UNLEASH THE POWER OF STEP 6”! We will take a very close look at using Step 6 to you...

Editor’s Note:  Robert Matthew, from Fishers Landing, NY, suggested we create a Did You Know? section, for items too sho...

“Is that a black squirrel?” I’m amazed at how surprised people are to see a black squirrel running ...

So far my articles have concentrated on the winners with increasing populations over the last four decades. Now I will m...

December 1837 and December 1838, more than 1,000 men were arrested and charged with piratical invasion and treason.

How do we measure time? Is it with a watch? A smile? Or perhaps the increasing number of grey hairs that look back at...

Charlie Cliffe died at his home in Lansdowne, ON, on Friday, February 10th, 2017 at the age of 86. Certainly, his family...

Growing up at Thousand Island Park was a summertime adventure. My first recollections were around the age of four and to...

In early spring 2015, Betty Matthews and Ingrid Schmidt were in the St. Lawrence Room at the Gananoque Inn and thought i...

Memories I grew up on the St. Lawrence, in Clayton, New York, and have been visiting for more than half a century; leavi...

Please enjoy the journey as we tackle an extreme Sudoku puzzle! Puzzle #23 will require advanced techniques. In the s...

“What can you tell me about the Grenell Island Yacht Club?” I get asked that question a lot. My answer—not much. All I k...

It was the last of summer when I came upon an old torn piece of lined yellow paper:   November 15, 1986 I burie...

The dynamic nature of our regions avifauna continues to be shaped by human actions, positive and negative. Some species ...

Editor’s Note:  Our thanks to Martha Grimes wife of the late Hunter Grimes III (1946-2015) Martha found this article, pu...

David Inglehart… What don’t you do?  A Google search finds that, in addition to a teacher and journalist, you’ve been a ...

That’s the size of the monitor on my camera. When I shoot, my entire world is reduced to just three inches. If you use a...

May was born Ada (some sources say Georgina) May Campbell, in Whitby, Ontario, Canada on June 27, 1862. Her father died ...

When Dennis McCarthy retired in 2009, he turned to his wife, Kathi, and said. "A year on the River in photos" that is wh...

“Where are you from?” This is usually one of the first questions asked when we meet people while we are trav...

We continue our 2016 Photo Contest in this issue. . . Ian Coristine summed up his difficulty in choosing our winners ...

The following is a chapter from “Going Home: Grindstone Island” written by Audrey Lashomb and published in 1...

All Photographs by Patti Mondore. Click to Enlarge I was out for an early morning kayak ride. I was passing by one of...

Those of us who collect Thousand Islands material – books, pamphlets, post cards and history – will know the...

When this young biologist first began working on the River in 1976, many things were very different in the bird world. T...

You’d be amazed by how difficult judging a contest like this is. I’m immediately forced to reject images, bu...

The Thousand Islands International Bridge is an iconic symbol of the 1000 Islands, connecting southeastern Ontario and n...

Each year we are all called upon to support our area emergency services. Some of these services are paid for through tax...

Ian Aldous MacLean was born in England, on Dec 2nd 1918, just outside London. His father was Lt. Col. Charles. . .

It was a great day for Lyle Notting when he realized he was within reach of his deep-seated goal and obsession of lugging home a free-standing walk-in cooler.

Not so long ago, but not that many people now living, can recall the time, winter was about as busy as summer, at almost every Lake Ontario

They were trying times in Upper Canada. Between December 1837 and December 1838, one internal revolt, one uprising, and at least fourteen armed incursions...

It was a lovely spring day, perhaps the best of the early season with a brilliant sun shining off the rich blue waters of the St. Lawrence River

The Lord works in mysterious ways; mothers do not. Whatever my mother did between the hours of ten that night and seven ...

I begin a review of “First Responder”, by Richard Withington, MD, with a memory of a phone call I received in 2009, from...

Another complete guide to solving a difficult puzzle, December 2016. Puzzle #20 has much to offer in terms of learning ...

I’ve enjoyed watching clouds all my life. They are like expressions on the face of the sky. The sky’s expressions are so...

It’s that time of year again. Time to celebrate the beauty of our islands through your eyes while providing the Christma...

[All photos courtesy of A. M. de Quesada, Coast Guard Historian] As my wife and I settled into the Captain’s cabin for t...

I call this article two for one… or actually three for one. You see, Jim Montanus posted one of his photographs o...

I was thirteen years old when I first came to the Thousand Islands. It was the summer of 1942, and the United States had...

Even though I was born and raised in New York State, I never cease to be awestruck by the beauty of our changing seasons...

  Editor’s Note:  A simple email arrived.  “Susan, I write poetry about t...

My father was an avid Mountaineer. When we were children, he took us climbing in the Sierra Nevada’s and the Bavarian Al...

A Complete Guide to Solving a Difficult Puzzle – November 2016 What are your Sudoku aspirations? Do you want t...

We don’t have one workshop on the island, but two. Sometimes it feels like we need to have two because with six bo...

Yes, New York State’s craft beverage industry is alive and well in the Thousand Islands. Taste Thousand Islands Cra...

Next month, Howe Island novelist, R.M.Doyon, will release “The Beginning Game” -- the third and final novel ...

Thousand Island Park celebrated the ground-breaking of the new Guzzle building on September 3, 2016, with hundreds of Th...

Quickly becoming one of Canada’s freshwater hot spots, Brockville offers wrecks, underwater sculptures, and an...

Justus Tripp, on a late-fall night sail, literally bumps into a submarine in the middle of Lake Ontario. They try to kil...

Early on Sunday morning, the phone would ring at the Tremont Island cottage. My husband groaned, “It’s your mother, no o...

It’s Wednesday afternoon, at two o’clock and Mrs. Kinney, my fifth grade teacher, announces, “Those of you going to reli...

A River Essay   This summer we went to our camp. Our camp is on the St. Lawrence River....

As I sit on my porch, enjoying the early fall’s warm air and beautiful River views in every direction, my mind is, for s...

Fall is upon us. Give yourself a lift & solve both Sudoku puzzles this month! First, we will revisit the approach...

The west wind came up at 2:49 a.m. A huge gust shook the cottage and the windows creaked like they might shatter into pi...

Dear Editor, I loved last month’s issue as always. The mention in TIL about that plane crash was inter...

Is it possible that I’ve been genetically engineered for tennis? My folks met on a tennis court, and I discovered the jo...

Yes. Take the white pine! It is standing in my brother’s back yard. It is ugly. It is pathetic. It has passed its prime,...

Editor’s back story:  Two years ago I met Mary and Nick Politis through TI Life.  Mary suggested and arr...

Under a cloudy sky, two boats dropped anchor off of a windswept and rugged island. Eager with anticipation, a landing pa...

Ogdensburgh Marine Railway The reconstructed marine railway was 700 feet long reaching from the engine house, about 3...

Dennis and I were privileged to be on the first tour of the newly formed St. Lawrence River Heritage Trail. On five even...

Hello. I’ve known you by reputation for years, Stunning sapphire channels and glittering granite islan...

Both puzzles in this month’s article will definitely expand your Sudoku horizons! First, we will revisit the approach, ...

Russ Disotell has an interesting title: “Facilitator, Brockville Culture Days”, but he is not alone.  Y...

There have been hints all day: a rustling behind a fern frond a trail of glitter across a rock a tiny acor...

Cruising America's Great Loop Sixty-two hundred miles, an eleven month second honeymoon, countless new friendship...

In July of 2016, the Thousand Islands Land Trust (TILT) conserved two parcels on one of the largest remaining forested

  It’s 1968.  It’s July.  I’m 13.  The sun is beating upon us.  Mercil...

John Poland, a retired Queens professor and author of the ‘Pictorial Pocket Guide to the Butterflies of the Kingst...

We don’t often think of the Thousand Islands as a militarized area, yet in the past, the Islands have been the sce...

The Early Years At the confluence of the Oswegatchie and St. Lawrence Rivers, Ogdensburg was a major shipbuilding and...

Editor’s Note: Jennie Ebert presented “The St. Lawrence River, Gift to my Heart” at a summer gathering...

“There must be something in the name,” I thought, It was Kari Zelson Robertson, the foun. der of Fibo...

Here are a couple of great rainy day Sudoku puzzles! First, we will revisit the approach as discussed in Dan’s ...

In 2014 we upgraded from “Say What”, our 36 ft. Chris Craft Cavalier, to “Miss MacDac”, a 41 ft....

I looked up at the huge silhouette of the “Thousand Islander” from my midship seat in the small boat. Swallowing hard I ...

On Saturday, June 4th, 2016, Ohana100 awarded Orleans Outreach Center, in Jefferson County, with 200 new books as gifts ...

A picture is worth a thousand words, they say, and things have stories to tell. But even if they didn’t have stori...

[We suggest you listen in to this music as you read this article...enjoy] It comes as no surprise that the 1000 Islands ...

A movie star I am not… but for a moment or two I certainly felt like one. It was back in April that I received an...

It is too hot to cook!  I don’t want to get dressed up and go to town!  Forget about buying an expensive...

I met Kerry Coyle on a June day, while I was being filmed by a crew from a German Television Show, to be broadcast on AR...

In this month’s Sudoku article you may find a couple of surprises! First, we will revisit the approach as discu...

This year, to celebrate the 4th of July, we went with several friends to the 1000 Islands Tower, on Hill Island.  ...

Our second day on the island, I woke up with a sore throat, body aches and chills. I hoped it was just a cold that would...

Brockville’s newest tourism attraction - The Aquatarium at Tall Ships Landing has officially opened its doors on the sho...

They were troubled times; between December, 1837 and December, 1838, at least 14 armed incursions. . .

Canadian and American family history is intertwined with Thousand Islands history, for Bob and Paula Street. They are th...

The Cornwall Brothers Store has seen it all. From its vantage point on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, the old ston...

I start this book review for “The Scimitar and the Snail” with the following Q&As: Q. Did you like the book?A. Absolu...

Step up the stairs and prepare to be dazzled! Built in 1839 by the settler families of the area, the edifice...

The first few years on the “Canadian Empress” provided me, as an Officer, memories of events that will last a lifetime. ...

Most “Thousand Islands Life” readers will know me for my work on Rock Island Lighthouse, but genealogy and l...

It seems that no matter how many years we've been here at the river enjoying its natural beauty and wildlife, we see...

Editor’s note:  Jeffry J. Weldon and his wife Carolyn, live on Wellesley  Island, from May through Octob...

It isn’t a very big sign on the lawn of 15 Princess Street, Gananoque, but the reason for the sign is an excellent one. ...

The Sudoku puzzles in this June issue of Thousand Island Life may be the most challenging yet! First, we will revisit...

One April morning, while still at home in Dunedin, Florida, I awoke to thunder from an approaching storm. A massive stor...

It’s time for island time again, in the 1000 Islands, as this year’s print issue of “Island Life Magaz...

Important to Note: Recently in the news, the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston, the very site where th...

The Lake and River Parish of the United Methodist Church received a new pastor, in July 2014. Reverend Nancy Stanley mov...

The story of Zavikon Island during the period ca. 1947 – 1970, is closely connected with that of the Rich family o...

The early 1960s were a very interesting time in America; the country was excited about having elected a charismatic, you...

  In April 1825, nearly ninety contributors donated to­wards the construction of an "Epis...

Are you ready for another Sudoku challenge this month? First, we will revisit the approach as discussed in Dan’...

I enjoyed Lynn E. McElfresh’s April 2016 article, A World of Islands,  where she wrote how she was inspired as a young g...

It was W.C. Fields who said, “I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food!” There are more than a dozen winem...

Mission?  To Inspire curiosity… Like so many in the crowd, I appreciated being on hand for the opening of the new Aquat...

How do you say thanks to those community members who do extraordinary things?  We all know that financial gifts ...

I recently visited The Aquatarium with my 6-year old daughter and 9-year-old son. While each of the exhibits garnered comments like “this is so cool!”

The St Lawrence River has run through my life since I was born. As a child, my family enjoyed each summer docked at the ...

As an exciting discovery destination and the gateway to other attractions, in the 1000 Islands, the Aquatarium is happy ...

I’m Thomas Harder, and I am part of the Aquatarium’s Animal Husbandry team. I’ve worked professionally in this field for nearly 20 years and have a background in biology, chemistry, life support and exhibit design, and maintenance.

This special issue is in celebration of the opening of the Aquatarium a 27,000+ square foot interactive, learning and di...

From the moment the anchor emerged dripping from the waters of the St. Lawrence River, the twelfth grade students of Thousand Islands Secondary School (TISS) knew this project would be

At the same time as the Aquatarium opened, two adjoining enterprises opened their doors to rave reviews. Ian Coristine ...

The first island I ever visited was Mackinac Island in Lake Huron. Sadly, I was only three and have no memory of the vis...

Early Years Now that the river has once again awoken from its winter slumber the familiar sight of Uncle Sam tour boa...

Henderson Harbor, on Lake Ontario, is more than 100 miles by boat from Waddington, N.Y., where the Bassmaster Elite Seri...

Editor’s Note: “How I miss the Thousand Islands,” is a sentence I see in emails every month.  One of those came from Dan...

TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON Celebrating the ever changing color palette of our landscape in Upstate New York; Acryli...

Yes, they are back… Some of Canada’s best-known authors are coming to Gananoque for a literary festival, fr...

It was the first day of spring, March 20th, 2016. My family and I decided to go on a spring hike to one of our favourite...

April Sudoku Challenge brings you two puzzles that will test your Sudoku skills! First, we will revisit the approach ...

With March and April, the snows melted away; brooks roared to life; lakes and rivers rose. Insects emerged searching, hu...

U.S. and Canadian governments poised to remove St Lawrence River from list of endangered rivers with a simple the stroke...

Sitting on the waters stone edge throwing twigs in the River aiming rocks at a distant ledge the cooler evening air make...

When I tell people we live on an island, they invariably ask if there is a bridge. I always say no, because what they ar...

The 1000 Islands is slowly starting to wake up after its seasonal slumber during the winter months when Canadian Geese j...

Last summer, I found a page on eBay from the April 1887 issue of the popular science magazine “Scientific American.” The...

Islanders Tuesday crossed and re-crossed the fairly narrow strip of water where the accident occurred. ...one or two st...

Steve Sturtz introduced me to Dustin Truesdell and his unique hobby. Steve’s photographs that caught my attention, cove...

It’s been 42 years since Charlie pulled us from the ice that frigid night in January 1974. In the years since then...

Congratulations to Elaine Vedette Tack! Elaine is well known in the Thousand Islands for her many volunteer activitie...

Friends gathered in the historic Clayton Opera House, to pay tribute to a well-known regional musician, while outside, a...

Today one would not guess that the small town of Prescott, Ontario, at one time had a thriving shipbuilding industry.

Edith Lehr Amsterdam, a doyenne of “the River”, and chatelaine of Casa Blanca, died on Feb. 26 in Key West, ...

Are you ready for another Sudoku challenge this month? First, we will revisit the approach as discussed in Dan’...

Sure – dipping into the St Lawrence River on Victoria Day or Memorial Day Weekends may be necessary if you want to be a ...

The River inspires people in all kinds of ways, whether it’s through art, painting or drawing, gardening, architec...

Skijoring is a Nordic term that means “Ski Driving.” I like to refer to it as green snowmobiling. Over the p...

It has been some time since I stood in the grand salon of the “Canadian Empress” Cruise Ship, in Kingston Harbour. It wa...

Young kid: “Mister Zimmer do you know where all the shoals are in the River?” Karl Zimmer: “Nop...

Have you met Steve Sturtz?  That’s a question many have been asking this past summer, as Steve attended sever...

I am sharing this brochure and photographs of Ina Island, located in the Summerland Group of Islands, near Alexandria Ba...

With the unexpected discovery of the Fitzgerald & Lee business records that took place in Alexandria Bay two summers...

It’s a small world… after all.  No, I am not talking Disney World’s favorite exhibit, but rather...

In the January issue of “TI Life” Rex Ennis presented The Tiffany Story – about West Crawford Island.&...

Editor’s note:  Do you tackle a Sudoku on your cottage veranda, sailboat cockpit, or at a campsite?  TI ...

I heard a splash and looked out. A woman* had jumped off her boat in our little cove. With the bowline of her 23-ft boat...

In like a lion and out like a lamb, or is it the other way around? Either way, March usually involves those references a...

Editor’s Note:  January 2016  - we need something to help pass the winter – nothing better than sh...

Mud Bay, are you kidding me? Who ever heard of Mud Bay?  Well, for your information, Mud Bay is an approximately 20...

Take the power of giving, add a touch of social media and top it off with a “never say die” individual, name...

Craig’s List read “Boat For Sale:  1949 Chris Craft 34 EXP.  $29,000.”  My son-in-la...

This article is the direct result of a document given to me by my wife’s cousin and my dear friend; MaryLou Rusho....

Since the publication of ‘Secrets of Hog Island,’ in September 2015, some new information concerning the burial has come...

Editor’s note:  Do you tackle a Sudoku on your cottage veranda, sailboat cockpit, or at a campsite?  TI ...

Once upon a time there was a little girl who loved books. The summer she was 12 was the first of many summers the little...

Honestly, this is a brutal job. It’s the same process as when selecting images for a book, but made more agonizing becau...

Note: This is an account written by the late Robert H. Rogers, telling of his experiences operating the searchlight on t...

I stand on top of the Sea Ray, preparing to take the first frigid plunge of the season. I can feel my heart racing in my...

It seems that each year, as the boating season winds down, I take a look backward and review the events of the River fro...

Every night is a different flight to a different galaxy… Do a sold out show, then I hit the road in my starship limousi...

Keep the faith. The name sounds much more complex than the technique! These steps are actually a barrel of fun

Cornelius Cook is buried in the Cross Cemetery, only a few kilometers north of the River and the site of his lightkeepin...

It was a far cry from the elegant Edwardian rooms of Fulford Place, Brockville’s finest mansion, but it fits in with the question: “Where do Wet-Bobs go in winter?”

It was 5 minutes to twelve, and the office closed at twelve. I went into the office and requested a copy of the listing. The listing agent was in the office

In June 2014, we made the decision – 8 years after Paul’s first issue of TI Life – to ask for support.

It wasn’t until I was packed up and ready to leave that I realized 2015 was a special year for me. I first came to Grene...

It’s that time of year again, to celebrate the beauty of our islands - through your eyes. Our 4th annual Thousa...

Lori Deiter developed a love for photography in 2007 after joining the ranks of Empty Nesters. What began as a hobby, quickly turned into a passion.

The Battle of the Windmill was fought 177 years ago, on November 12 to 16, 1838. In my article, previously published (Re...

More than 200 years have elapsed since the virgin forest around Sackets Harbor was laid low by an army of axes and saws ...

It has been several decades since I found my first book of Thousand Islands history. Since then, literally 100+ books ma...

Norm was a wonderful asset to the Thousand Islands Museum, not only hosting our Hashing Over History program, but passing along his many stories and knowledge of the River and its people

Charles G. Emery, of Calumet Island, deliberately opened a can of worms in around 1895; he was determined to own all of ...

Editor’s Note:  The headline reads “Otter Creek Preserve is Open!” with “Thanks to you. our supporters…”  Yes, the Thous...

Editor’s note:  Do you tackle a Sudoku on your cottage veranda, sailboat cockpit, or at a campsite?  TI ...

Experts who look at this science every day are now concerned that El Niño 2015 could be the strongest ever on record – and those particular records date back to 1950

It happened on a calm evening right after sunset, while light still lingered on the horizon. Islanders on the south side...

Tee Time on Grenadier Island  The most popular mode of transportation on this island is golf cart. Residents use them to...

Editor’s Note: Part I Fire! Fire aboard the “Watertown!” was published in our September issue o...

“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." Benjamin Franklin used this phrase...

Art is more of a journey than a profession. The type of art one might produce evolves along the way. If artists do not c...

North Country Troopers (and Proud Citizens) Honor our Troops We had the opportunity to have a front row view of the thir...

The challenge of describing the "The River" has been finally successful. We have visual and musical collaboration that fills our hearts and allows us to share our awe and wonder of The Thousand Islands

How many of you remember Cantwell's Creamery and Grocery Store? Now the Koffee Kove Restaurant in Clayton, NY? Yes, ...

Editor’s Note:  Melody and Ken Brabant live in the village of Clayton, NY.  This article is a spe...

Editor’s note:  Do you tackle a Sudoku on your cottage veranda, sailboat cockpit, or at a campsite?  TI ...

Pearl Harbor   ---   JFK’s Assassination    ---  9/11    --...

“We should write a book.” It was just an off-hand comment made in the kitchen, as two neighbors made dinner. Or was it? ...

Captain Coleman Hinckley Sr. had just rolled over in his bed, disturbing his wife Isabella when he heard what sounded like a commotion about a block away.

The other day my daughter walked in and said, "You look tired Mom, are you feeling okay? I hadn't thought I was...

My husband and I went over to Singer Castle this past July to do a book signing. This also always gives us a good excuse...

“I know a new museum is in Chippewa Bay, but I am not sure where?” I said. “Go back down the ro...

I hear the muffled shots in the distance, the close volley that signals the hunt has ended. Visions of a succulent roasted wild goose...

One cannot spend much time on Thousand Island Park without hearing about the Chautauqua Institution, or more simply, “Ch...

For those of us on the River who knew Hunter F.  Grimes III, the news of his death in early September was sad indeed.  O...

The flames in the engine compartment kept wanting to reignite, but the firemen finally won the battle...

There have been several islands that have gone by the name of Hog including the current McDonald Island in the Admiralty...

Richard F. Palmer is a retired newspaper editor and reporter and well known for his weekly historical columns for the “Oswego Palladium-Times” called "On the Waterfront."

Editor’s note:  Do you tackle a Sudoku on your cottage veranda, sailboat cockpit, or at a campsite?  TI ...

Imagine being on an island and not owning a boat, at least not a motorboat. That’s how it was back in the 1880s. L...

I recently followed a beautiful trail that led me to discover the Macsherry family. The adventure, ever-so-appropriately...

  Robert Leeder is my favourite ancestor, not because he did anything earth shaking but he managed to leave a wo...

It started from an email request for a hard copy of “TI Life.”  I explained that we are only online &nd...

On August 3rd, 2013, Gretchen, my wife, and I were being paddled by ten costumed and outfitted ‘Voyageurs’, to Half Moon...

We received an invitation to join Joan and Skip Tolette, at their home on Grindstone Island, for wine and cheese, and a ...

Solving Sudoku puzzles can be a lifetime activity for everyone!...

My name is Matthew Berry and the awesome things about the Thousand Islands are the super good places to fish and all the...

Picnicking is as much a part of 1000 Islands tradition as taking boat rides and fishing. Picnicking during the 1880s was...

About a month ago we started noticing some “unusual” things on our island in the Lake Fleet Group. We have a...

(WARNING: If you are afraid of snakes…do NOT read this article) *********** “Are there snakes there?” I demanded, prior ...

Turning 80 is a milestone – no I am not talking age – but rather the number of articles decided upon, resear...

In February of 2015, the Federal Government of Canada recognized Agnes Maule Machar as a person of national interest.&nb...

The Red is a majestic cottage on Tremont Island. It lives on the St. Lawrence River right near Gananoque, Ontario. This ...

Do you buy postcards or do you prefer to capture your own images while enjoying the Thousand Islands? Like most peopl...

Who can forget the meeting in Rockport, in November 1975, when an announcement by Parks Canada stunned owners of Canadia...

This is a journey I embarked on, trying to find out where Mr. Edgar Cayce vacationed, in the 1000 Islands. I came across...

William Lyon Mackenzie was the leader of the 1837 Upper Canadian Rebellion. He escaped, after the defeat of rebel forces...

Editor’s Note: “Summer Magic” was written by Robert L. Neulieb, a member of the Poet & Writers, IN...

Editor’s Note: Camille Crandall presented Boating Adventures in the 1000 Islands as part of a 500-word writing ass...

The summer I was 14, I named my journal, “Summer is an Island.” No one would find that title odd now, as I spend my summ...

“Darn!” I exclaimed; “I forgot to buy rhubarb.” My friend and I had planned to make rhubarb marmalade the next morning. ...

I heard the pounding before I saw him, as I stepped out of my 2002 silver Jetta.  It was a chilly Tuesday morning, April...

Seeing an Art Pundt photograph on Facebook, always brings a smile.  This month I had the opportunity to place a call and...

We all remember that great summer day when we passed our first real test on the river: “If you can swim from our dock to...

A photograph of the “Valeria.”   Where did she ply the waterways?  When?  What is her hi...

We encourage our readers to visit the many museums and art exhibits in the region.  A simple way to plan your summe...

Everyone knows someone who is hooked on Sudoku puzzles.  For those who love them, Sudoku is quite meditative and ju...

Luckily for 1000 Islanders, this winter Ian Coristine found he had almost 20,000 new photographs, since he published his...

North Wind Publishing (Belfast, Maine) releases Patty Mondore’s newest book, “A Bird Lover's Reflections: A 90-Day Devot...

It's that time of year again: Island Time. This year's issue of Island Life Magazine,available this month,

The garage door closed, the drag of melancholy left behind.
To The River in brilliant sunlight,
grey macadam before and after me,

When I was a little girl, (a long time ago) we rarely saw squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, etc. I think there had been an e...

"There is a piano in the park.", said one grandchild. “Honestly, a real piano,” said the second and from the third came,...

It was a simple idea. A group of guys who read decided to get together to discuss books.  We came from a diverse backgro...

Editor’s Note:  Normally we stay close to the St. Lawrence River… “on it, under it, or above it.”  However, many Islande...

The 10-foot inflatable boat that is the New York Sea Grant Discover Clean & Safe Boating educational vessel for 2015...

Editor’s Note:  A version of this article was first published in “Country” magazine.  St. Lawrence River: Through the Th...

Justin Heath has a dream that someday the sign on Heart Island will read: Boldt Castle & Formal Gardens. For some, the g...

How do you capture an inspired view of the River? In memories? Perhaps digitally, or yesterday on film?  Alice Burton’s ...

Editor’s note:  Our thanks to Tom French for sharing his fictional story with TI Life from his e-book. Wind Water Waves,...

“There are all kinds of silences and each of them means a different thing. There is the silence that comes with mo...

The Luckenback Family were prominent River people, yet they did not have a cottage, as far as this author has been able ...

Frances Richards was born in Brockville, in 1852, into the prominent Richards clan. Her uncle William Buell Richards was...

  Editor’s Note.  Rexford Ennis published “Toujours Jeune, Always Young,” in 2012 and the...

Steven D. Glazer found the attached article from the front page of the October 24, 1890, issue of The St. Lawrence Heral...

The FAB Community profile series features people who are prominent and involved members of the Frontenac Arch Biosphere ...

As we go to press today, April 14th, we learned that Clayton will serve as a Port of Call for cruise ships this summer.&...

“Dad couldn’t swim a stroke. His line always was: ‘If I fall in, I figure I’ll learn’!”  -Mike Hogan Springtime in Ki...

Grindstone explorers, who study a topographical map of Grindstone Island, will note a Bench Mark out near Grindstone&rsq...

It had been 99 years since a member of the E.R. Holden family visited Thousand Island Park.  However, this past summer i...

2014: A Successful/Record Year for Common Terns in the 1000 Islands. After 25 years of working to restore the dwindling...

It actually started in California. I was on a road trip down the west coast from Vancouver, then across the continental ...

I am originally from South of Syracuse, NY.  I was a boy when my grandparents moved from, just down the road from w...

A Toronto native, I graduated from Queen’s University in May 1962 and moved to Brockville, to take a job at Automatic El...

Before he died, our neighbor Bill Wood, a part-time handy man on the island, always said that you can find anything you ...

Last summer I read Captain Henry Johnston’s 1937 book, The Thousand Islands of the St Lawrence River with Descriptions o...

A breakwater in front of the piers at Cape Vincent, is demanded by the commercial wants of the place, and it is presumed...

Throughout this past month, the name Doug Grant has overtaken my Facebook alerts and I am happy it has. He has, just ...

This is a true story...Sunday is a day of rest for everyone in the Carpenter family except my mother. She calls Sunday “the day of the rest of it.” My Mom runs Carpenter’s Grocery

Question: What does the St. Lawrence River and the Derwent River in Hobart, Tasmania have in common? Answer: Ca...

Patriot Chronicles: From Political Prisoner to American Pioneer February 12, 1840 marked the end of a long voyage to a ...

I’ve posted this picture a few times over the years and get an incredible response each time. I like to make the t...

I found a treasure! Not gold coins or rare gems. It was a thin book wearing a dingy blue cloth cover with embossed gold ...

There is no place like home and for many, home is the Thousand Islands.  Thomas K. Hunt, a poet, says this is where his ...

This year, thousands of young Canadians all across Canada are going to be flocking to training schools to learn to fly, ...

When Rep. Elise Stefanik raised her right hand in Washington this month, to be sworn in as the North Country’s Rep...

The first thing 10-year-old Grant Peacock did that summer morning early last century. . .

Overnight at Singer Castle on Dark Island: The Stuff of Dreams/Nightmares Imagine this: a man you never met befor...

When I was a toddler many years ago, there were several thoroughly river rat locals who were known to relish the bounty ...

Sometimes when we write about the past, we are reliant upon the words of those who came before us. So in this article, I...

During the late 19th century, long before today's era of mass electronic media, stories relating to America's past were ...

Sure, everyone likes the River during the summer months when the water is liquid, the air is a warm 75 degrees and the t...

It is such a privilege to see the River through the eyes of others who care deeply about it, but also a challenge to try...

I grew up landlocked. The only natural body of water in my hometown was called the Bone Yard Creek, which in reality was...

Breaking waves with blinding snow. A mariners nightmare. Rolling hard, the paddle-wheel steamer SS Wolfe Islander approached Garden Island. . .

Muskie Catch and Release from an Antique St Lawrence Skiff I had just dropped back my antique Skinner Muskie spoon an...

Well, the "nylons are in the shower" again, so it’s time for the annual, informal report of what happene...

Editor’s Note:  For almost 20 years, a  local chapter of ACBS Wine Country Classic Boats, Inc. (WCCB, Inc.)  Hammondspor...

August 4, 2013: the day my husband Terry & I chose to honour our river heritage, pay homage to thirty-five years of ...

How would you like to take a train ride to the Thousand Islands?

The hook is only 139 words of the Preface, but that was all it took for me to want the Jefferson County Egan Murders: Ni...

In early May, Pat Carpenter packed up her car, left her maintenance-free condo in Columbus, Ohio, and along with her two...

It’s that time of year again, to celebrate the beauty of our islands - through your eyes. Our 3rd annual Th...

I was brought up in a family where alcohol was considered the invention of the devil. My Mother had been brought up as a...

An Excerpt from "A Birth on the River," (December 24/25, 1962). To be published in The Ghost of Billy Masterson and Othe...

We thank you most sincerely - Les Boszormeny - for continuing to share your passion...

Editor’s Note:  Julie Madlin is the City of Ogdensburg Historian, appointed in September 2014.  Chief to...

Patriot Chronicles: Nathan Williams, a Rebel Who Participated In and Escaped From the Battle of the Windmill, is present...

Marilee’s Fish Tale… My husband and I have been married now for fifteen years. On our wedding anniversary for the past 1...

“Taking the Gold” continues the adventures and mysteries of Corey “Worder-Redrow-Hart,” who live...

Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve Conservation Biology Blueprint Study We are two students completing our final year at Q...

The work of famous American artist Frederic Remington is on display at the Brockville Arts Centre this month. Exhibits f...

One of the joys of living on an island is introducing new people to the River and island life. I’d been coming to ...

“I look intensely at the shapes of rocks, land and water and the interplay between the sky and water.. I live in the Tho...

A Loon Encounter The first time it happened, I suppose I chalked it up to luck – being in the right place at th...

September 17th and it is a beautiful fall morning.  As I cross the Bridge into the United States the Customs Agent asked...

[Editor’s Note:  “Ode to a Friend” a tribute to the late John Russell.   We at TI Life are honored to publish this and t]...

Motorboats to sailing yachts - 100 plus years of CYC! Today’s Clayton Yacht Club recently celebrated its 75th A...

When I was very young living on East Line Road, my bedroom window faced south over-looking the farm. Early in the mornin...

Our thanks to Kenneth Deedy of Grindstone Island, for sharing an article from his collection of Thousand Islands memorab...

Thanksgiving Day in Canada brings River families together for the traditional holiday dinner and weekend activities.&nbs...

Thousand Island Park is no stranger to fire. On the night of August 13th, 2014, shortly before midnight, a fire was disc...

It was love at first sight that saved Casa Blanca, a grand Gilded Age estate on Cherry Island. The century-old cottag...

There may be a simple way to thank community members for acts of generosity - a thank you letter; perhaps a plaque to ha...

Tuesday, July 22nd was a perfect day on the river – sunny and warm with a light wind blowing from the southwest. My budd...

Editor’s Note:  This summer I had the opportunity to meet a talented photographer, Andrée Thorpe.  After...

Note:  This testimonial to the Northern New York EMS System was sent by Jack Elder.  The Elder family summered...

Save The River’s Bass Catch and Release Program Save The River, the Upper St. Lawrence River’s envir...

The old woman gazed thoughtfully at the September sky as she hung up the phone. “There’s a big storm comi...

A cold February evening in Kansas, still at least six more weeks of winter weather. “You’ve got mail” ...

It’s been almost 15 years since the first time I laid eyes on the beauty of the 1000 Islands. I still remember it,...

I have a love/hate relationship with Canada geese. One goose by itself I can handle, but as a group…oh, my! The n...

What's in a name? The dictionary defines 'Kismet' as "a power that is believed to control what happens in the future." ...

The most widely recognized pump house in the 1000 Islands stands at the downriver end of Heart Island. George Boldt’s ma...

I am not really old and wise, yet, but I have been fishing the St Lawrence for all of my 68 years. I am not a fisheries ...

Good questions…. and there is one more:  “Do you want it back”?  Here is the beginning of the mystery. Early ...

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Hugh Papworth in Alexandria Bay. Our conversations were much like reviewing a ...

I accumulate stuff. Thirty years on the staff of the United States House of Representatives in Washington, gave me an o...

All along the shores of the St Lawrence River in the Thousand Islands are small communities. Most consist of year-round ...

The first time I experienced the Grenadier Island Country Club or GICC, as it’s known to its members, was in 2003. ...

On 9 July, 2014 Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the opening of the 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel in Clayton, NY, with the fo...

NOTE:   We have been notified that the Paint-Out for this year has been cancelled.  We will keep you informed ...

All Photographs by Sue March How excited I was to be invited for a week of sailing on The River! I summered there all o...

Yes, we have more news.  National Geographic Event…Sea-Doo Ride...Boat Parade… and a Wedding Celebration. David Do...

One of North America's premier developers renowned for his luxury custom design is revitalizing Gananoque's waterfront w...

Do you remember the Great Canadian Flag Debate of 1964? When our country’s Prime Minister, Nobel Peace Prizewinner Leste...

The launch of a St. Lawrence skiff has fittingly marked the launch of the first phase of the new Thousand Islands Boat M...

Sitting with All In Adventures co-owner Kevin Thorn near the water’s edge at Bonnie Castle’s Pointe Bar & Grill in A...

1000 Islands Tower – (recent) past, present and future 2013 was a great first season. There was so much media coverage ...

It must have been an arduous journey for my 5th. great-grandfather, Jacob Karn travelling from the Palatinate region of ...

The peep- peep –peep call of the Common Tern is a ubiquitous part of the sound of the 1000 Islands. Once a very plent...

All too often we pass over or under a highway bridge with a tribute name displayed on a sign.  We rarely stop to th...

  A Short Haiku Primer: Haiku is a very short form of Japanese poetry popularized by Matsuo Bashō (1644–1694), ...

Surely there are enough 1000 Islands dog stories to fill a dozen books. Few places on earth are better suited to the end...

This is my first summer interning with the Thousand Islands Land Trust (TILT), but for years I have periodically spent m...

A young German immigrant named Fred Huck discovered the Thousand Islands in the late 1800s; first in Cape Vincent and th...

We were crossing the channel Wednesday morning, May 28th when my husband, Gary, shouted out, “Ship!” I had been looking ...

Mary Ann Evans - known as Mare - is living her father’s legacy and extending her heritage at Evans House, a North Countr...

When most of us see a headline about the rich and famous, or a column about "Society", we often read it. In Rosemary Sex...

Once a quiet waterfront village, Clayton has arguably become the poster child for Thousand Islands revitalization over t...

In our family we have often said… “We will cross that bridge when we come to it…” When Paul Malo, created TI Life in 20...

About a month ago, I uploaded the photograph below, on the TI Life’s facebook page.  Readers suggested I used Photo...

I was reading The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame for the umpteenth time, and all I could think about was that I ...

Editor’s Note: In late March of this year I received an email from Rod Anstee.  He collects photograph albums and...

Editor’s Note:  Our TI Life policy suggests we stick to stories, photographs or illustrations that relate to the ...

My mother-in-law said when she was growing up, her relatives, the Pratts didn’t allow any weeding, raking or lawn mowing...

The pictures you are about see can be traced back to A. C. McIntyre, but they are not photographs as we know them today....

We have always lived in Clayton, NY,  but not on the River. Our farm is at the upper end of French Creek and border...

Many years of playing and working on The River allowed me to make the acquaintance of several fascinating people. Some w...

Unfortunately the story of the North American Patriots coming to Tasmania, has not had the publicity it deserves;  ...

“What’s the local brew?” It’s a simple question, but arguably the one that began Thousand Islands B&B owner Bruce Da...

On May 3, 1814, troops from Kingston boarded seven ships, and eleven gunboats, manned by a thousand Royal Navy sailors; ...

Dave Wells had no idea that his first book, published in 2011 would sell out…  “I wasn’t sure how many people would...

  A Seaway Newcomer Comes on Board As a Seaway Giant Becomes a Legend It is highly unlikely that Clarkson Univers...

The Thousand Islands have been affected by an invader – the Pale Swallow-wort – with large infestations in the region, i...

Over twenty years ago Janet, my wife, was working in her store, the Karmelcorn Shop in Watertown. It was an old building...

It's that time of year again. Island Time. It's time to celebrate summer and enjoy The River in one of the most enchant...

It’s only a 5 x 8 book with 108 pages, but this little dynamo powers my unquenchable interest in Grenell Island history....

“That young Mullin deserves a medal... taking me across the ice under impossible conditions...” Dr. Kenneth J. Regan; K...

After my father, Donald Heberling, died in 2003, I found two dozen essays he wrote during his plebe year at the United S...

From Coal Yard to Condos – The History of the Gordon Marine Property on the Gananoque Waterfront  Part Three: The...

“I am a realist,” says Maureen Sheridan. Her comment made me think, “I am too.”, as I loved every piece of her work a...

  How would you like to visit some Thousand Island homes and cottages as they were one hundred and thirty years ag...

This article is one of a series examining the early lighthouses of the Thousand Islands, in both Canadian and American w...

Travelling down the St. Lawrence River and passing Carleton Island...

For many years the Arthur Child Heritage Museum in Gananoque has dreamed of undertaking a unique exhibit to be housed in...

The War of 1812 from Sackets Harbor to the Saranac River New York’s North Country looms large at the sixth annual War o...

Editor’s note:  I recently learned that the Aquatairum is moving forward with the concept of establishing RiverQues...

After a winter of continuous cold and snow, another weekend visit of the Polar Vortex seemed routine. The Vernal Equinox...

As I delve into Grenell Island history, the newspaper archive is a treasure trove of information. Sporadically throughou...

Everything about the book, Great White Fleet:  Celebrating Canada Steamship Lines Passenger Ships, (Dundurn, Toront...

An article like this one is difficult to write. It was suggested to me at a recent HASHING OVER HISTORY session. A neigh...

I’ve long been a fan of the American Boat Line double deck tour boats. In fact, I’ve written about them before on my blo...

My father, Robert Gareth Service, had many talents: gifted writer, creative artist, in spite of being color blind, and a...

From Coal Yard to Condos – The History of the Gordon Marine Property on the Gananoque Waterfront Part Two: The Cuttle Y...

I first knew stained glass was something special, when my father brought home from work, two small, triangular-shaped pi...

Two kilometers east of Kingston City Hall is an 1814-1816 rural village, much of it looking as way-back-then...

Do you know how to make The Bloody Murry, a Starboard Coffee or Pirate Johnston Juice?  Not to worry as you can now...

Events of the 2013 Commemoration of the War of 1812 The second year of the War of 1812 began on the St. Lawrence, with ...

For those of us who live at the foot of Grenell, Pullman Island is helpful for nighttime navigation. We depend on that r...

Most people who live or visit the Thousand Islands have seen River Artist: Janet Sullins’ photographs.   They ...

With half of the second period gone, Brydge staged a nice little rush, passed the puck to Patterson who tied the count w...

The Thousand Islands region will, in 2016, have an  Olympian! David Ross, who will graduate from Niagara College t...

We are used to seeing beautiful color photographs of the Thousand Islands. The brilliant blue skies and green islands of...

In June 2010, TI Life profiled Dr. John Carter in John Carter’s Prisoners in Van Diemen’s Land, The story had a remarkab...

Island Settlement The War of 1812 was a 32-month conflict between the United States and Great Britain. At the conclusio...

From Coal Yard to Condos – The History of the Gordon Marine Property on the Gananoque Waterfront Part One: The Sampson ...

Just as both side of the river prepared to enjoy the Christmas holiday, those aboard the ocean-going vessel Orsula were ...

So, who loves you? Hint: they are often seen around Cape Vincent driving a Valentine heart red vehicle.

In the midst of winter, it is certainly fun to think of the glorious ‘tea party’ hosted for the grand children and great...

Editor’s Note:  For those of us fascinated by genealogy, this story is perfect.  Rex Ennis weaves his magic by...

The Professor I was writing about the Thousand Islands for just a few months when photographer Ian Coristine introduc...

About right now, I’m thinking about sitting on the dock, staring out at the St. Lawrence and sipping on a MacDac. It’s t...

The idea for a study of the Architecture on Historic Churches in Jefferson County, New York came from a request by the J...

It was serendipitous that TI Life heard about local nature and wildlife photographer Bruce Dana. Bruce first introduced ...

Poetica is a charming name given to an equally charming one-of-a-kind boat from a superb boat builder. She was designed ...

Will Salisbury began his art adventure more than four decades ago. “It was in Big Sur in 1971, that my first sales occur...

Many of us have studied, or know of, Hamlet and, this summer, we may be able to experience something different, very dif...

From my beginnings I flowed quietly and deep. In Summer you could hardly see my current as it flowed to the Great River....

The muskie press gallery published several stories about two giant muskies caught in our Thousand Islands. Each headlin...

From December 25, 2013 to December 30, 2013 the Bulk Carrier Orsula was stranded at Tibbetts Point...

Native tradition has it that a diminutive, ugly (hairy-faced), mischievous spirit lived in shallow caves on the cliff-si...

  Carol and Ken Kozin of Clayton, NY, have been traveling to Pasadena California for the last six years to help ...

Editor’s Note: Season's Greetings for 2013. We asked our readers to submit their very best photographs of the Thousa...

When you talk about The River here in the Thousand Islands, no further explanation is required. Why? Because it might as...

Before my first visit to Grenell, my husband, then fiancé, tried to describe Grenell and surroundings. When he mentioned...

The life of a wooden boat can be harsh. As they age, these boats are often one problem away from being unceremoniously p...

It all started with our neighbors. That is how most good things begin on Mink Island. The Navarras and the Ryans are fri...

It is Christmas on the River, a place quite different from summertime. The hustle and bustle of water sports and recreat...

The first time I walked down the curving drive to the Zenda Lodge I was going to apply for a job. I had heard that they ...

Take a grant from the Northern New York Community Foundation and one from the Delaney Bay Foundation on Grindstone Islan...

When I was young, one of my favorite verses went like this: "They who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They ...

Playton mayor Ogden Harper donned his pajamas and sat back with a tumbler of sherry in front of the TV...

These Thousand Island pictures, taken over one hundred twenty five years ago, are a treasure to be shared. They are sca...

It’s been an incredibly exciting year for RiverQuest’s Aquatarium, and 2014 looks even brighter! With the RiverQuest Aq...

Winters grasp begins to take hold. The boaters are long gone, either to a distant land or are squirreled away inside, be...

Heron Cay. Kismet. Cherry. And Honey Bee. What do these Thousand Islands have in common? They will be featured in the pa...

The closest I’d been to a traditional Thousand Island Shore Dinner is the banner hanging in my cottage kitchen. I’ve bee...

As with the chronicling of any historical event, period newspapers and journals were written for different reasons and from varied perspectives.

Let’s face it. We’re in love. For many of us, this romance began when we were old enough to wriggle into a life preserv...

“How can we help the Library and the community?” asked the the Friends of the Hawn Memorial Library

Thousand Islands Life Magazine’s second annual Christmas photo contest is upon us. Why Christmas? Because the winners’ a...

Cannon fire, presentations and re-enactors commemorated the Bicentennial Celebration of the War of 1812 Battle of French...

It's hard for me to believe that I'm so old that my childhood memories could be called history, but after sitting in on ...

The River is my lover… I believe I can speak those words intimately because the beautiful St Lawrence River is big enoug...

On October 20th 2013 Jan and I entered the St. Lawrence River from the Atlantic Ocean through the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

It is that time of year again. The days are shorter, nights are cooler, and the geese are flocking. The evening star is ...

Reminder: In the coming months, we will update our “Books Page” as we learn of new publications...

Paul V. Johnson October 15, 1940 – October 8, 2011 Ambitious, meticulous, redheaded Irishman... could be hotheaded, to...

A River Shirt is that special work shirt that is tattered, torn or splattered with paint, but it goes way beyond that.

Two years ago, Janice and I were watching the evening news when we saw a report on something called “The Little Free Lib...

These days, there does not seem to be much to distinguish young river rat types. Times have changed and young people hav...

David Parkins is a top notch illustrator, whose work is seen in high profile international magazines, award winning ‘pic...

Sometimes we see a beautiful photograph and think, “I wish that I could take photographs like that”. Well, that’s what I...

Plans are currently underway to bring a new distinction to the 1000 Islands region that is long overdue, providing more ...

This summer Meki Tate, a descendant of Cato Leonard visited the Thousand Island Museum in Clayton, NY.   Her v...

Email, Facebook, Instagram, and all the other wondrous tools available on the Internet have made it easier than ever to ...

We didn’t need another boat, but Gary and I fell in love with 1922 La Tâche when we saw her at Antique Boat America. We ...

When we bought our 1922 Lindsey launch in the fall of 2011, she sported the name 1922 La Tache for the favorite wine of ...

In the 1960’s, when I was growing up on Manhattan Island on the St Lawrence River, fiberglass boats were beginning to ma...

It was back in November 2011 that I first  published  “Just where in the heck is Redwood, NY?..What's in Redwo...

The St. Lawrence River town of Clayton, New York overlooking the Thousand Islands has a claim to fame other than being a...

In 2011, Eric J. Roberts and Andrea Reeves took an “Uncle Sam’s” boat tour one morning during a day trip to the Thousand...

I’d like to share some insights as a boater of the Thousand Islands. I’m not talking about day boaters or island hoppers...

TI Life first met Patty Mondore back in August 2008 when she wrote a beautiful memorial tribute to Paul Malo, the founde...

With its combination of shallow bays, marshes, and island ponds, our region is a prime area for appreciating turtles. Th...

"Where do your stories come from?" is a question we writers like to hear. In my case the answer is specific: the stories...

We had exciting guests the second week of July. The descendents of Sam and Lucy Grenell—Connie Grenell, his wife, Mary, ...

Where else could you expect to meet the Vagabond King, Lady Gilbert, Red Devil and BarrTender? At a golf course on an i...

"Wait a minute lady! What about me? When you moved in here almost forty years ago with those eight little kids, do you know what I was thinking?

“The sinking of the Athabaskan is the worst naval disaster in Canadian history,”

It was a dark and stormy night! OK that is a pretty lame way to start a narration but it was a dark and stormy night. I ...

Is it a loafer or a moccasin? It is called a “boat shoe,” and it has a skid resistant, rubber sole. The upper looks like...

What is the easiest, least expensive way to own an island in the Thousand Islands area? Why create one, of course—on a t...

Pastor Arthur Couch isn't a traditional snow bird. His annual fall pilgrimage isn't to Arizona, South Carolina or Florid...

Grayce Lulu Bickford was Charles G. Emery’s girl Friday at the New Frontenac Hotel on Round Island. Born 19 December 187...

My sister, Smith, and I have been coming to the Thousand Islands since we were little, following the tradition of spendi...

I met Ann Davis in the Thousand Island Pavilion last month..

Get your zoot suit on or dress as a flapper and ‘roar’ in Rockport Aug. 16-18

Congratulations to the winners of the Thousand Island Land Trust’s (TILT) 2013 Instagram photo contest! The contest i...

Editor’s Note: Thousand Islands  Life is pleased to publicize this important “Save our Casino Rally”.  Kevin ...

We’ve had a merganser nesting in the white pine outside our bedroom window every season for about four years now. We usu...

The mass escape of state prisoners on July 29, 1838 was a singular event in the history of Fort Henry, but it was an important chapter in the history...

“The Russians are Coming! The Russians are coming!” Okay, I don’t think that’s actually what Stephanie Weiss, assistant ...

Editor’s Note:  Imagine how pleased we were to receive this submission written by Kate Modler, who just competed 4t...

Back in the early days of television, we watched the CBS’s show: “What’s My Line”, which ran fro...

A moment long-awaited by enthusiasts of Rock Island Lighthouse came the morning of Tuesday, June 4th, when a Grand Reope...

Thousand Islands Land Trust (TILT) has once again announced their Annual Loon Count for July 20, 2013. Observers across...

When something is prohibited,....

A “flapper” was the new woman of the 1920’s. The First World War had just ended. The world had lost its innocence....

To celebrate the 4th of July, Dennis & I took a Rockport Boat Line cruise to watch the fireworks over Boldt Castle, ...

We’re here! We arrived on the island in the middle of a glorious sunny day. The crossing was a little bumpy but Linda at...

“I wouldn’t live anywhere else... I don’t think you can beat it!” Antoine ‘Tiner’ LaRush “People are drawn to this hou...

A handful of brave souls ventured out in the cold for the grand opening of the newly renamed Thousand Islands National P...

The Thousand Islands Navy, or the Admiralty as it is known by some, was established in 1940 by W. Grant Mitchell, my gre...

The sandwich board points to a Flea Market and each time I see it I experience the thrill of the hunt!   In fa...

The boat you are looking at is the oldest motoryacht in continuous usage anywhere in North America, and presents one of ...

Camping on an island has a special appeal -- that feeling of leaving the everyday back on the mainland. This quality tha...

I’ve only been working with the Thousand Islands Land Trust (TILT) for a little over a year, but in that short time I fe...

Remington died of appendicitis in 1909 at the age of 48. Theodore Roosevelt...

Any Islander will tell you, they are an integral part of keeping our river community safe. And with water levels becomi...

Riverquest...It’s all about inspiring curiosity! So whatever things you are “In Quest of”, be it adventure...

Wednesday, June 4th, 2013 – or is it?  The calendar may be correct, but the scenery told another story.  More ...

As Brockville was preparing for the arrival of 14 tall ships, Clayton was ready for another 3 to arrive as part of the 2...

“It began as a spark of an idea that grew from conversations about the wonderful ‘Island’ stories...

It’s time to head north. I get emails from non-River friends all the time asking, “When are you going back to the cabin ...

It's that time of year again: Island Time. Summer is back and so is Island Life Magazine. Here's a preview of this year'...

What happened when eight talented artisans got together and brain stormed?  A new business was formed which gave lo...

It all sounded too good to be true. When Dawn and Kevin Rast heard about a program where Fort Drum families were invite...

This is how -  we -  Heidi and Konrad Linckh, came to buy Hill Island's Skydeck Observation Tower. There is d...

The decade of the 1920s is well remembered as a time of rapid growth in the American economy and the development of pers...

As far as debut novels go, this is a great one. Inspired by a true story, this novel was the outcome of a screenplay wr...

Now That We’re Here, Where Will We Stay? Some people collect postcards or stamps but my efforts  turned to acquiri...

Paddlers, local and visiting, novice and expert, can choose from a new selection of paddling tours this season within th...

This summer we want to hear from visiting mariners.  Whether you are on a yacht, sailboat, or canoe or kayak – cons...

Editor’s note:  “Taking Hart”, written by M.A. Noble is s a thriller and filled with action and suspense.  Bel...

On May 12, 2013, we took the Rockport Boat Line’s Mother’s Day Cruise and Brunch.  We were inside, so the cold didn...

"Enough of that! Now for the really thrilling news... I soloed on Sunday, April 29! Yip, I SOLOed!

Among boaters that enjoy using their vintage craft frequently, Lyman boats seem to hold a very unique position. Many woo...

During the summer of 1912, Ralph Britton of Gananoque, Canada’s foremost canoe expert, had won every sailing race of the...

My father, Keith Taylor loved to talk about the early TIA days. He was one of the original boaters who attended the Augu...

The 2013 season is officially up and running on all cylinders throughout the region. Ice has melted, birds have returned...

The dock spider has the uncanny ability to strike fear into the hearts of all but the hardiest of souls.

“...the burning of the Sir Robert Peel Steamer, by a band of masked villains – [was] outdoing the worst deeds of the worst ...

The memories most dear to me are the times I spent with my Grandfather. He was so proud to show-off his first born grandson to the River captain community in the 'Burg...

The St. Lawrence River has always been an important transportation route. During the War of 1812 the Upper St. Lawrence...

The solitude and silence of the frozen sub-arctic winter sets the mind to thinking and the sharpens the senses. Without ...

So what's different? Who out there remembers the 1000 Islands from the 60's and can compare it to today? Let me take a stab at it...

When we travel to different corners of the world, I’m always amazed how often our experiences somehow link back to the S...

Since 2004 my family and I have been visiting our secret garden cottage retreat, on the shores of the Thousand Islands R...

Island residents face their toughest winter in years. The ferry Wolfe Islander operates on an erratic schedule because o...

It’s estimated that around 5 million people in Canada and 20 million people in the United States are of Scottish decent....

For the first time since the Thousand Islands Playhouse was formed in 1982, a new Artistic Director has taken the reins....

In the fall of 1940 officials from the United States Defense Department made a quiet trip to Alexandria Bay, NY. It was ...

The historic and picturesque lakeside city of Kingston, Ontario will become the focus of the Antique and Classic Boat un...

Early in September, 1927 a steam-powered barge appeared on the water off Snowshoe Point near Henderson Harbor in eastern...

These polar bears give “helping the community” a whole new meaning to the word "courage".

When people hear the word ‘volunteer’ a lot of things may come to mind. For me, volunteering as a way to give back to my...

My boots tap on the faux-wood floor as I walk into Leeds County Books in downtown Brockville. The brightness and warmth ...

My father-in-law used to joke that the most expensive piece of artwork he owned was the wooden blue heron that sat on th...

Many years ago, when I was a student at Linklater Public School in Gananoque, I used to participate in the local Royal C...

My thanks go to Brian Winter, the archivist for the Whitby Ontario Library for sharing this 1927 Toronto Daily Star arti...

It's a new song about our favorite spot in the World. The 1000 Islands. It's written by a local performer called JPShaggy

In the early 1900s, long deck launches became the boats of choice among well-to-do summer residents on the lakes and riv...

For River folks of all ages the world of nature and all of its beauty is literally waiting just outside your door. ...

My grandfather, Thomas Mitchell (1913-1990), told me many stories about life on the river during the winter months. Many...

One of the little known historic sites on the Canadian mainland is the area around Sheriff’s and Lindsay’s Points west o...

I love looking at photographs of the Thousand Islands. In fact, I can never get enough of them, so when I learned that D...

Readers of Thousand Islands Life well know how the St. Lawrence River inspires artists, poets, writers . . .

The date was February 1838. Action in the Upper Canadian rebellion had abated on Navy Island on the Niagara River and ha...

In early February TI Life received a note from Rob Pakan.  He gave a heartfelt thanks to TI Life and our many autho...

Our family came to the Thousand Islands and spent five years visiting the St. Lawrence Islands National Park docks. As a...

The Serious Part of Childhood on the River and Elsewhere  …Milestones When we think of our progress down the river...

Wheelock Souvenir China In early February we received this email from Carol Apperson. Oceanside, Oregon, USA.  Car...

I have been feeding the deer for years at our winter home along the Parkway near Ivy Lea.  They were emptying my bi...

You can see the utter joy on their faces as children of the congregation come forward to ring the chapel. Lots of childr...

There was no ice to thaw as the Seaway season got underway back in March due to temperatures being higher than normal th...

His name has become quite familiar in the Thousand Islands in recent years even though he hasn't been there in almost a ...

I’ve heard stories, seen pictures and I’ve even seen the dusty stuffed trophies mounted...

There are times in one’s life when the stars seem to be in alignment and maybe this to be one of those times.  It i...

Throughout the winter season Dr. Richard Withington  provides a unique service to Round Islanders.  He writes ...

It was about 45 years ago, give or take a few years, when I first visited the Thousand Islands. I was about 7 or 8 years...

In mid-September 2011, I visited the Thousand Islands briefly from my home in East Virginia to gather material for an ar...

In December I won an auction on eBay – a pewter “Trophy Cup”. Once again...

Were you around this summer to see photographers and videographers with cameras in hand shooting from the air, on boats,...

How often is life a singular path?  A narrative that guides you from one meaningful moment to the next.  All o...

In August 1958, my family of five, mom, dad, brother, sister, and myself sailed aboard the Cunard’s famous RMS Queen Elizabeth liner to Southampton, England.

I love this shot! It really immerses me in the place - a place I immediately want to be. I love the contrasting light...

A few weeks ago, just after sunset, I saw a gorgeous ship upbound at Clayton... It was unusual because it was bathed ent...

Editor’s Note: Congratulations to all Grenell Island residents – past and present -  who participated in the island...

The day that she and partner David Belding bought their first two pigs is the day Dani Baker thinks her mother rolled ov...

As we approach the holiday season it is appropriate to reflect on our circumstances that might otherwise be taken for gr...

Just imagine yourself being one of the Seaway River Pilots stationed in Cape Vincent and you are scheduled for duty to g...

Imagine the scene, just like the poem, ‘Twas the night before Christmas, and ‘you know who’ had been very busy up there...

Sometimes Mother Nature needs a hand. Low water levels on the St. Lawrence presented environmental groups the perfect op...

Who? George Rockwell? Never heard of him! No, it doesn’t surprise me as he flew under my radar for a while. Let me star...

For those of you who wish you were back on the River – be envious.  On Thursday, December 13, I had the chance to g...

It's the towering tree that you first notice about this little island west of Brockville. It almost resembles a palm tre...

Island neighbor, Catherine Hinds, tells me the water was so low the year she was born, that her parents could walk from ...

“There’s just gott’a be a better way to earn a living than this!” Grant ‘Lindy’ Lucy, machine operator at Parmenter &am...

The best thing about Thousand Island Park is its proximity to the swamps of Wellesley Island. When I insulated our su...

Excitement is in the air! We are heading downriver on an October Saturday, cutting through the rippling waters of the St...

. . . Here I am again, sitting in my car on the Prescott/Ogdensburg international bridge, waiting in a line of traffic. ...

A few weeks ago, just before closing the island for the season, I awoke to a scene I had never seen before. Just beyond ...

If you were listening to the radio in the Thousand Islands, on the morning of June 20, 2009 you would have heard that a ...

The history detectives at the Leeds and the Thousand Islands Archives (LTIArchives) are hard at work, constantly in search of their quarry.

Had enough of The War of 1812? Not really? Good, because I feel the same way. Ever since the Kingston Historical Soci...

 Anne and Charles Phillips honeymooned in the Thousand Islands in 1929. Before they left, the bride of a Methodist ...

Bounce! Bounce! PLOP! And the phone was gone. It was a blustery day and the river was so rough my husband changed to car...

“I don’t like your stupid old river!” blurted a little boy to his parents making the nighttime crossing by boat from a dance hall in Clayton, N.Y.,

After I developed my passion for photography I resisted for years taking pictures while in the Islands.

Surfing the internet one day, I landed on a 1000-Island tourist attraction and found myself staring into the picture of ...

“Oh my God! That’s disgusting. That snake is going to get into the birdhouse”, my sister-in-law screamed. We had been w...

It was September 21, 1812 - 200 years ago, the first shots on the St. Lawrence River frontier rang out in Gananoque. &#...

“Please remember to dump your garbage far enough from shore so it does not wash back onto the shores of Grenell.” I foun...

Bob, raised in Endicott NY often tent camped at Wellesley Island State Park. I am from small town Nebraska. Today we div...

Excursions, books & magazines and a special gift to subscribers...all reasons to enjoy TI Life in the Fall, so read more here..

Bottoms up for the St. Lawrence River… but not the kind you would tip your glass for.  The bottom of the St. Law...

The Great Lake Swimmers literally swam and dove into the St. Lawrence, spending a hot summer day here in August filming ...

When you live on an island, boats are important. In the early days, most people got to and from the island via a steamer...

Lovely, home-built and all-aluminum the Thousand Islander queens it over Gananoque’s seaway. Alcan News, No. 6, 1972 W...

The St. Lawrence River has served as an avenue of exploration, a battleground for national freedom fighters, a platform ...

No I’m not talking about making a new dive site by sinking a ship with a rocket. I am talking about a lost shipwreck tha...

Now that my first summer as Coordinator of Education & Outreach at the Thousand Islands Land Trust (TILT) is winding...

“No story of a small privately-owned firm such as Mitchell & Wilson Ltd. can be...

The history of every legendary figure includes tall tales, deliberate embellishments, and apocrypha. Bill Johnston, the ...

What actually makes you a River Rat? A while ago, I ran into an old fellow who was reputed locally to be a "River Rat"...

You see there are any number of distinct advantages to living in the Thousand Islands region, as attested to by the number of articles in this magazine...

When Ian Coristine published One in a Thousand on May 1st, we asked if we at TI Life could be involved in some small way...

Temagami Island   I am in Chippewa Bay 10 miles below Alexandria Bay. Seven miles wide here and blows like hell ev...

Sam Grenell first laid out lots for summer cottages on Grenell Island in 1879. By the turn of the century there were ove...

The American lighthouses of the Thousand Islands have fared better than their Canadian counterparts over the years. Of t...

Have you ever wondered what the Thousand Islands would be like if all the birds disappeared? I have, and I certainly hop...

2012 marks the 175th anniversary of the 1837/38 Upper Canadian Rebellions. This is a chapter in that story which has a F...

Dave and Mary Roberts signed a lease to open their privately owned public aquarium...

It has been a roller-coaster since I first saw Kim Lunmen’s June 2011 article  Fulford Yacht's Historical Homecomin...

Attended by almost 300 people, this year’s Thousand Islands Association annual meeting and traditional shore breakfast w...

I’ve always held a fascination with history, especially along the river. Whether it was the wreck of the Riverside near the rift...

Bob kicked the clod of earth that had covered the artifacts and out fell a brass tag that was about two and a half inches...

If you cruise by Grenell Island after dark this month, you might notice something special. Grenell Island is glowing wit...

Grenellians have an intense attachment to the old launch "That’s Her". For me, the stories make her seem larger...

It stood out like a beacon, which in fact it was. For seven days, Rob Morrisette had seen nothing but water, sunrise to...

I happened to meet a fellow the other day who asked what I did with my time. I told him that I had the privilege of bein...

The 3-ring, leather, binder is the best “read” I have had in many years. Neither a novel or a piece of non-fiction it is...

A.W. Bruce Sherman usually wears a cap. On it, in bold letters, is “Art Matters”, and for him it really does.  He a...

Long dresses, top hats and lots of red, blue and grey uniforms made their way into Joel Stone Heritage Park on Monday, J...

The 1000 Islands Then & Now by John McQuarrie with Ian Coristine, Doug Grant, Jennifer McKendry, John Nalon and Don ...

Note:  Tom French published his new eBook  on Smashwords and Amazon this month.   Wind Water Waves i...

Editor’s Note:  On May 30, Michael Folsom published this message on his website Ship Watcher Blog.  Michael is...

During my first week on the island, July, 1975, I went to the Grenell Island Store/Post Office to mail postcards home to...

For several years I’ve been interested in flags and flag etiquette and wanted to share some of the correct and incorrect...

Where did it all begin? I wasn’t old enough to hold a guitar, but my Uncle Tom both played professionally and gave lessons...

Z – At Zavikon Island, zealous children zig-zag around zebra mussels while Zipper zooms by.

Though her journey to year-round Thousand Islands life was more of a self-described “gradual wading in” than “plunge,” my friend Elizabeth “Liz” Price-Kellogg

If Minna Anthony Common had a Rock Ridges Trail blog I would have had it bookmarked, or better yet I would have pinned i...

A kitchen party in the 1950s, rural Canada. A small, tightly-knit, stable, island community in the mouth of the St Lawre...

The Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II celebrates a remarkable 60 years on the throne by a monarch who ha...

I grew up in rural Maine with “back-to-the-land” parents, so naturally I couldn’t wait to move to the big city...

Gone in 5 minutes… Every story I’ve heard about fire on the islands usually had the phrase…it was gone in 5 minutes. ...

Kim Lunman, the owner and publisher of Island Life, founded the annual glossy magazine in 2009. The writer and photograp...

A female wood duck left her nesting box and landed right underneath her box. She started to make a very special kind of call, very softly...

From September 3rd to 9th, Smuggler's Glen Golf Club near Ivy Lea (Ontario) will be the site of the inaugural Great Wate...

Everyone loved those seventy degree days we enjoyed this past March. However, one of the downsides of what seems to be a...

"I immediately saw the potential..."

For more than a decade, River communities have advocated for a new water levels management plan that is protective of Ri...

Chapman Shoal is located between Round Island and Pine (AKA: Beckwith) Island in the St. Lawrence River downriver from C...

It has been our great pleasure to review Ian Coristine’s newest book for the iPad, One in a Thousand. It is an exciting ...

Wow! Ian Coristine’s new eBook for the iPad, One in a Thousand, is an amazing interactive look at a place I’ve always co...

As I'm sure many of you know, Ian Coristine has been taking pictures of the 1000 Islands and publishing books for some t...

Ian Coristine is a modest man. While he aptly describes One in a Thousand as a collaborative effort, he doesn’t explain ...

How it all began… Caroline and I have all of Ian Coristine’s books. We hadn't met Ian but I was always envious when his...

Mid-April and lots to report and lots to look forward to! Check out this article as we introduce new...

Author's Note: I first met Mary Hewitt in the summer of 2010 and interviewed her several times near Rockport at her ma...

The first sign of the shipping season came early, one full day early to be exact. Mississagi made its way from Hamilton...

If there is one thing that Grenell Island does not need, it’s more numbers. There are Lot Numbers, Fire Numbers and the ...

Her name is Zipper and she's one of the most active classic commuters in North America. During the past twenty-seven yea...

“You got guts, Vicki, I like your spirit. Keep it up!” Canadian hockey icon Don Cherry “You got spunk... I hate spunk!”...

My husband, Jon, and I moved from the Washington, DC area to Clayton in fall 2010 after a few years of dreaming of year-round River living.

Early postcard scenes of the Canadian Thousand Islands published by the Detroit Photographic Co.

We rowed carefully into the bay at Georgina Island, one trainee looking expectantly into the water off the bow, waiting to spot ...

I live a long way from the Thousand Islands but my quest to discover who designed my home in Worcester, Massachusetts le...

The citizens of Round Island are gathering at the dockside post office under a sapphire blue sky on a Sunday afternoon i...

“How many cottages are on the island?” This is usually the first question I’m asked when I begin to describe life on Gr...

Every year, on the second Saturday in August, the members of a criminal cohort make their way by ferry to peaceful, buco...

...“What Constable James means,” he said, “is that we’re not in a position to help you. The Anti-Gang Unit—”...

She ain’t no lady! She’s not a tramp either!   She introduces you to the 1000 Islands in her own inimitable wa...

What you see is a photograph from 1965 of the Pot Pourri plying the St. Lawrence River with a Dodge Motor Home