Thousand islands Life, From the Editor, October 2024

Summer weather arrived in the Thousand Islands and never really left. On August 1, when it was warm, sunny, and flat calm, I suggested that we were okay today, but wait until September comes – ha! September came and went, and our sweaters never left the cupboard.

Brian LaJuett shared this one saying, "Fall beauty on the water today (Oct. 5th) with the interplay of the sunlight, the rippling water, and the submerged rocks. No filters or digital effects used.

Good News

When you read this, Canadians will have finished their Thanksgiving turkey, and many will be back to normal life at their winter address. Those lucky enough to call Kingston their home are celebrating the fact that the LaSalle Causeway, the bridge on the waterfront crossing the Cataraqui River, opened last week. You will remember the bridge suffered severe damage in early April, which caused several tour boats to be stranded upriver. We thank Mike Hill, aka Aerosnapper, who captured the bridge repairs on YouTube and shared the October 3, 2024 Grand Opening. The causeway will be closed again for nine hours on October 15 and November 16, for those boats wanting to leave the St. Lawrence and winter in the harbour.

Areosnapper presents the opening of the Lasalle Causeway on October 3, 2024. https://youtu.be/ve4a5HvRxFA

Submissions

Once again, this editor is smiling. Each month, we wonder what will be ready for publishing by mid-month. In October, we were certainly not disappointed. You will find articles about history and nature, essays, book reviews, Dan’s Sudoku and several beautiful photographs.

One story in particular is making me smile. A couple of years ago, we received a story from Patrick Metcalf, which arrived in monthly installments. He had made up a River Mystery for his son and thought that others might enjoy it as well. The Witch of Wellesley Island followed with nine episodes. At the same time, we introduced our illustrator and Kingston artist, Marie-Anne Erki, and these partners entertained us splendidly with story and art. However, life overtook Patrick, and he wasn’t able finish the series. However, we were often asked how it would end. Patrick agreed that we should proceed and finish the story, so our intrepid illustrator did just that. Mind you, she put a twist on the whole tale that made this Editor and TI Life's copy editor, Elspeth Naismith, sit up in 1) shock, and 2) giggles galore! Enjoy!

Tribute to Floyd Patterson

We wish to pay tribute to longtime Kingston broadcaster and journalist Floyd Patterson, who died on September 30. He worked for many of Canada’s leading media outlets and often covered River stories. I was fortunate to have met him at several events and he was a true champion of the region. His obituary said it honestly, “He was a born newsman.”

Sandra Adams captures a typical 2024 fall sunset. Flat calm once again!

Gretchen Huntley captures the Norther Lights

Our Thousand Islands communities took advantage of the Aurora Borealis this month and luckily for us the photographs were outstanding. Gananoque's Poet Laureate, Gretchen Huntley shares her poem entitled, "The Gift" with us and Karen Millspaugh provided the photograph! Enjoy.

L: Karen Millspaugh writes "My contribution to last night's spectacular show, Cape Vincent, 10/10/24. Oh, what a night!; R: Gretchen Huntley was inspired by a photograph to write this lovely "The Gift." [Hint: Join 1000 Islands River Rats Now and Then Facebook page to find more treasures'!]

Pam Hudson shared this one taken from the Playhouse, saying, "The Thousand Islands Playhouse had the best show on tonight."

Concern for Snowbirds

By now, many Islanders have left the River and now have winter addresses. As many of you know, I grew up in St. Pete’s Beach, Florida, and I, like millions across the USA and Canada, know that Mother Nature battered many parts of the south and as far north as the Carolinas earlier in October with Hurricane Helene. Then, this past week, once again, with Hurricane Milton. Please be sure to check on your friends and neighbors who were living through these past few weeks and see if you can help them in some tangible way.

Seaway Photo Ops

Thanks James R. Miller for your photograph. Everyone was asking about this one. It is the Harry Dewolf of the Royal Canadian Navy, built in 2016 and commissioned in 2021. While in Kingston she gave tours to RMC students and volunteers from the Kingston Maritime Museum. Now it is in Toronto and according to CBC news article: "Cmdr. Jon Nicholson says the navy is trying to give civilians a glimpse of life on the sea and potentially recruit some new members."

Yes, this is the time of year that we can appreciate the Seaway's photo ops! L: James R. Miller shared this one (another rough day!) and R: Richard Thomas, shared his with the title, "Light on the River."

Conclusion

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

Enjoy our fall season and get ready, because our 2024 Photo Contest will be introduced in November with a deadline of December 6. (I can’t wait!)

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

Plus the TI Life Team: Elspeth Naismith is the "Real Editor"; our proofreaders are Georgia Barker, Dane Zabriskie, and Rick Taylor. In addition, Jennifer Caddick has taken over social media; Dan Mathias posts events; Beth Lavos is posting books; Marie-Anne Erki is our illustrator; and last but not least is Mike Cox, our IT Magician. We also have some excellent news: Allison Burchell-Robinson is joining the team.

Header photo from the J. W. King collection, Gananoque, courtesy of Tom King.

J.W. King's Photography Collection is much appreciated by Islanders on both sides of the River.