From the Editor, June 2024!

You can see the Exclamation Mark at the end of the title to this month’s “From the Editor.” Why? A good reason. Few can remember a time when the weather has been so good for holiday weekends. Both the Canadian Victoria Day weekend and the US Memorial day weekend were perfect for camping, boating, and enjoying the Thousand Islands.

Yes, fine weather brings us to the River and the start of Summer 2024.

Special summer evenings are scheduled for the 1000 Islands History Museum and the Thousand Island Land Trust.  The Canadian 1000 Islands History Museum will hold it's Summer Gala at Eagle Point Estate, Thursday, July 18 from 5-8:00 pm, the home is along the Parkway; and the US Thousand Islands Land Trust Annual Summer Gathering will be held on Saturday, July 20, 2024 at the Kingsley residence, Zenda Farm Road. (Both are shamefully championed by this editor, who remains closely connected with both organizations as an enthusiastic cheerleader)

Please check your favourite Events Calendar on both sides of the River for full schedules as you will not want to miss many summer activities.

Kingston, Gananoque, Brockville, Ogdensburg, Alexandria Bay, Clayton, and Cape Vincent.  

Blind Bay Update

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has set dates for public hearings for a new facility it wants to build along the St. Lawrence River in Blind Bay. This is one of the most important public meetings you can attend, to help preserve our River. The meetings are on Tuesday, June 25, and on Wednesday, June is 26 from 4-7 p.m. at Cerow Recreation Park Arena in Clayton, NY.

The Thousand Islands Land Trust sends this warning:

Important Changes to be Aware of:

Initially, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had agreed to scheduling an in-person public hearing. Unfortunately, their recent letter indicates a clear and intentional shift away from this promise.

We find it highly problematic that CBP is hosting an 'open house' instead of a public hearing. This appears to be a deliberate effort to dilute public input and attention.

TILT goes on to say:

Please forward this message to your River friends and neighbors and urge them to write a letter and attend the in-person public meeting on Tuesday, June 25th and Wednesday, June 26th at Cerow Recreation Park Arena, Clayton, Address: 615 E Line Rd, Clayton, NY 13624.

See TILT's comment letter: https://saveblindbay.com/uncategorized/tilt-scoping-comments-for-cbp-supplemental-environmental-assessment-may-20th-2024/

Comments may also be submitted via email or US Mail to Mr. John Petrilla.  Here are a few talking points for your letter or email:

1. CBP must listen to the River communities and include the Bonnie Castle Recreation Center as a suitable site under consideration for the proposed Border Patrol station. No other properties along the riverfront are acceptable for this industrial-scale facility.
2. CBP already has water-access, at the Wellesley Island U.S. Coast Guard Station and Keewaydin State Park.
3. The two locations included in the scoping process - Blind Bay and Dockside Cottages - are both residential areas and strongly opposed by the River community.
4. The proposed facility would decimate the environment, undermine property values, and forever alter the quality of life for the River communities.
5. CBP must conduct a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) instead of just an Environmental Assessment (EA).
6. CBP should consider the cumulative impacts of light pollution, which are already severe at the Wellesley Island Port of Entry.
7. CBP should consider utilizing existing infrastructure, such as the Port of Entry on Wellesley Island and boat access points at Wellesley Island Station and Keewaydin State Park.

More information may be found on the Save Blind Bay website.

Canadian Capital Gains Tax

Blind Bay is a problem for Canadians as well - read about the environmental reasons and you will understand. BUT, the Canadian Federal Government approved changed to the Capital Gains Tax which will have a direct impact on generational Canadian cottage owners. The Federation of Ontario Cottagers' Associations (FOCA) opposes the tax and we encourage everyone to take the time to read their website to learn more. FOCA says:

FOCA urgently calls on the government to postpone the June 25, 2024 implementation date to give families time to make informed financial decisions.

FOCA advocates for tax exemptions tailored to the unique circumstances of seasonal cottagers, such as a once-per-lifetime tax exemption for these kinds of inter-generational family transfers.

See FOCA for the Latest News - Please review both.

From the Editor: Conclusion

Please leave comments or questions about our articles, or send them to me to post (there is a glitch using some web browsers.)

Remember we have a Call for River Recipes that can be sent to info@thousandislandslife.com. How about dockside cookies, evening cocktails, Sunday night dinner?  Come on, we need some more inspiration for summer 2024!

Support

And do you wish to assist TI Life by donating the price of a cup of coffee or a tank of gas? Support helps us with updating software and supports our mailing program. We don't need a lot... but every bit helps. US residents: Support Link and Canadian residents:  Support Link.

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

And as usual, the ‘culprits’ on the TI Life Team: Elspeth Naismith, the “Real Editor;” Georgia Barker, Dane Zabriskie, and Rick Taylor are our proofreaders. With Jennifer Caddick, who handles social media; Dan Mathias, who posts events; Beth Lavos posts books; Marie-Anne Erki is our illustrator; and last, but absolutely not least, is Mike Cox, our IT Magician.

Header photo by Chris Murray, Chris Murray Photography

Posted in: Volume 19, Issue 6, June 2024, From the editor, News Item