TI Life Happenings in August 2015

What a summer…  We are still amazed that the water levels are so high… not complaining at all.  Dozens of events, family gatherings and most of all, the quiet island time that has been appreciated by all.  Some families are already heading back to big cities and school days, but for those of us fortunate to remain on the River – we offer a variety of articles for you to enjoy:

Paul Coté presents My Favourite Ancestor and Lynn McElfresh gives a firsthand account of Boathouses New and Old.

Patty Mondore pays tribute to the Macsherry family in Exploring the Macsherrys and Their Trail.

Doug McLellan discovers A Story of Berries and Birds  (complete with a unique video) while Tad Clark takes us Picnicking… and Matthew Berry goes Fishing in the Thousand Islands.

Meet the Joe and Libby Burkle in Windseeker on tour...

Terry Bambrick , inspired by his nephew’s building Voyageur canoes, presents The Voyageurs & Their Canoes

I had the pleasure of attending a Grindstone Island evening and Hearing the “Gypsy Song” by Deming Holleran

We conclude with Sudoku expert, Dan LeKander, presenting  Part I–Sudoku Puzzle Preparation for Dan’s steps 1-8.  There will be five more parts presented in future issues, helping you move from being a novice to an expert…

New Contributors

	Dan LeKander - Part I–Sudoku Puzzle Preparation for Dan’s steps 1-8 Dan LeKander and his wife, Peggy, have been seasonal residents of Fineview on Wellesley Island, since 1983.  He is the author of 3 Advanced Sudoku Techniques That Will Change Your Game Forever, published in 2015. (See the TI Life book review written by Jessy Kahn, in our July issue).  In addition to being a Sudoku addict, Dan explores the 1000 Islands to enjoy the wildlife, beauty, and of course, Catch-and Release bass fishing!
	Joe and Libby Burkle - Windseeker on tour... Joe and Libby Burkle’s home address is near Portland Oregon, but throughout the year they can be found a long way from home.  Together with their West Highland White Terrier, Corey, they travel from coast to coast in their luxury mobile RV; with Joe at the wheel of the RV and Libby following or leading in their Chevy Suburban, towing a 22’ Catalina sailboat.  In addition, they have a day job with their company, Rose City Software.
	Paul Coté  - My Favourite Ancestor Paul Coté is a resident of Gananoque. He has socialized and worked on the river for most of his life. History has always been a passion and he is a self-confessed genealogy addict. Recently retired from contracting on the River, he now has time to pursue and write about  his research. He is currently writing a book about the 500-year history of the Leeder family.
	Matthew Berry - Fishing in the Thousand Islands Matthew Berry is 14 years of age and is going into Grade 9, September 2015 at Regiopolis-Notre Dame Catholic High School, in Kingston, ON. Matthew enjoys playing hockey, and ball hockey with his friends. He also enjoys playing guitar and listening to rock and roll music inspired by his Uncle John MacKay from Landowne, Ontario. Matthew's Dad, Rob Berry, took Matthew fishing at an early age and they have fished locally in the area.  Matthew attended The Reading Clinic, in Kingston, this past year to fine tune his reading and writing skills. He says his teachers were amazing, taking his interests and using them as motivators.

Still confused about border crossing?

Our thanks to Doug McLellan and Caroline Yung for taking the border crossing issue and doing something about it!  In June we outlined the “now-enforced” Canadian border crossing rules and soon after Doug and his McLellan Group presented an online petition with a simple suggestion:  A Call for Harmonized & Sensible Customs…  The Thousand Islands Association (TIA) presented over 250 names to Gord Brown, the Canadian Member of Parliament for Leeds-Grenville,  at their annual meeting in July, and since then more than 500 have signed the petition. 

The story of the petition was picked up by North Country Public Radio, presented by Julia Botero & Brit Hanson, in Watertown and Canton, NY.   We encourage our readers to read the NCPR material and then sign the petition – Together we can make sure our voices are heard.

Petition:  http://www.lovethisriver.com/better-boating-regulations/

NCPR Article:  To Call or not to call…

TI Park News

Received the news this week.  “Clayton-based architecture firm, Taylored Architecture, with an accomplished team led by the firm’s principal, Jonathan Taylor, is the winner of the design competition for the Thousand Island Park’s new Commercial Block. The firm’s three-structure building design, which includes a flagship space for the Park’s iconic “Guzzle” ice cream shop and restaurant, maximizes use, accessibility, and green space, while reflecting the extraordinary history of Thousand Island Park.”

More info in the future… but this is a fine first step!

Events not to miss…

St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival in Prescott, ONOf all the events helping make Summer 2015 memorable - we recommend you enjoy Shakespeare Live, on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, with the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival’s productions running through to Saturday, August 22.  The productions are held in the Kinsmen Amphitheatre, Sandra S. Lawn Harbour, Water Street East, Prescott, Ontario.

To learn more visit: www.stlawrenceshakespeare.ca

Show Schedule: 

Mallorytown Village Fair - Front of Yonge Township

…an old-fashioned day for the whole family.  Saturday, August 22.  9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Located at the Mallory Coach House and Gardens, 1523 County Rd. # 2 and the Mallorytown Community Centre – 76 Country Road # 5.

Visit the new Chippewa Bay Maritime Museum

A brand new maritime museum is now open, in a renovated church, in Chippewa Bay.  The two-story museum will have several antique boats on display, thanks to its creator, Allan Newell.  News reports explain Allan’s interests in boats and his helping to promote economic prosperity, in the tiny hamlet, in St. Lawrence County.   “TI Life” will present more on the new museum and its exhibits, but suffice to say, we recommend you visit this summer.  Opening days are Thursday through Sunday.

An Australian Friend

For several years, this editor has looked forward to receiving an email each month from Alan Smith (no relation).  You see the night we post our TI Life, Alan sends a thank you.  I can’t remember exactly when or how Alan found “TI Life,” but I suspect that it resulted from Dr. John Carter’s articles about the Patriot’s War of 1838 and the link between the US prisoners of war, who were captured by the British and sent to Tasmania to serve-out their prison terms.

However, he has been a loyal fan.  Last month he wrote to report that it was a cold winter Down Under, and while writing he heard the noise of visitors out on his lawn.  I asked him to take a photograph of his visitors and the next morning, this wonderful picture was in my email.

We thank you Alan, for your continued encouragement and we want you to know that your visitors are wonderful to see.  We have deer on this side of the world, but unlike your little friends, they do a wee bit of damage to our gardens…

Editor’s Self Promotion!

This is (probably) Self Promotion… but after hours of proof-reading, (by me, my husband, and two wonderful volunteers) my original 1993 book - “The First Summer People, Thousand Islands 1650-1910”, – is now in its second printing.  It is a soft-cover version, printed by Henderson Printing in Brockville, and available at Corbins Heritage Book Store, Clayton NY; Leeds County Books, Brockville; The 1000 Islands Tower, Hill Island and the Arthur Child Heritage Museum, Gananoque.  (Yes, I am proud to see it on the shelves again!)

Summer 2015 Memories

We have selected a number of photographs to share this month from readers around the River.  Please keep them coming and don’t forget to enter them in our 2015 Photo Contest in December!

Please Don’t Forget

Remember our Facebook page throughout the month, as we post information and photographs & follow us on We also appreciate having you hit our  button and donate!

By Susan W. Smith, Editor info@thousandislandslife.com

[Special thanks to our editors and proof readers this month:  Bill Stallan and  Jane Taylor.]