From the Editor, July 2024

Susan W. Smith -

Happy Canada Day and Happy Independence Day to all families and friends. Mother Nature provided perfect weather for both and every BBQ in the area was on the go! Of course the annual evening fireworks were appreciated near and far!

Our thanks to John Street for sharing his incredible photo of July 4th, 2024 in Alexandria Bay. [©2024 John Street]

More Shout Outs!!!

How nice to start this article with few of very special Shout Outs.  On Saturday, June 22, City Cruises out of Gananoque (formerly Gananoque Boat Lines) and the Island Queen (1000 Islands Cruises) tours out of Kingston, gave a special gift to an islander and  and in return, we want to give them a big shout out!  

Those of us who live in the Admiralty Islands know that the Boat Lines look forward to passing a tiny island called LaVignette. Why? Because the owner, Catherine VanSickle, makes it her "job" to salute each passing tour boat with a wave, perhaps a new hat, and certainly if the passengers are lucky a little dance on her bridge! She has done so for several decades.  

On that Saturday in June, the Captains turned the tables. As they approached the island, they explained that Cathy was turning 99 years old the next day and each captain said he would truly appreciate it, if his passengers would sing a Happy Birthday to Cathy as they were going by! The passengers did just that and our Cathy expressed shock and was in awe . . .

So all readers, please join me in saluting Cathy VanSickle, these Captains, their crew and their passengers with a big Shout Out! Well done, all.

John Street captures the Milky Way on a starry, starry [©2024 John Street]

On Your Mark - Get Set - Go!

Mid-summer and we have event after event to meet old friends and make new ones . . .

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.

Just a smattering of July and early August events!
  • Canada: 1000 Islands History Museum - Summer Gala - July 18, 5-8 PM  at Eagle Point Estate, 1000 Islands Parkway.
  • Canadian: Thousand Islands Association Breakfast - Saturday July 20th at the 1000 Islands Playhouse. Registration opens at 8:00 am. Full Hot Breakfast & Social Starts at 8:30 am followed by the AGM and Guest Speaker, Scott MacCrimmon, at 10:00 am.
  • USA: Thousand Islands Land Trust Annual Summer Gathering, Saturday, July 20, 6:00pm - 9:00pm. The Woodlands, Kingsley Residence, Zenda Road, Clayton, NY. Join us as we celebrate another year of conservation in the Thousand Islands!
  • USA: Antique Boat Show -  Join us to celebrate the 60th Annual Antique Boat Show & Auction in Clayton, August 2-4, 2024! Get your Boat Show & Auction tickets - book online now!
  • USA: 56th Annual Decoy & Wildlife Art Show - Cerow Recreation Park Arena, Clayton NY, Friday, July 19 - 20, 2024.
  • USA: Balloons in the Islands (All events are weather dependent) July 26th, 2024, 7 – 9 pm at Coyote Moon Vineyards, 17371 East Line Road, Clayton, NY, 13624 & July 27th, 2024, 2 – 7 pm at Zenda Farms Preserve, 38973 Zenda Rd, Clayton, NY, 13624.
  • USA: Frederic Remington Museum: Join the fun at the 2nd annual Remington Reunion Celebration for the whole community during Ogdensburg's Seaway Festival! Wednesday, July 24, 5:00-7:00 pm. $50 per person.
  • USA: "Paddle for Betterment" Alexandria Bay, July 27. Be sure to see their website for details by The Foundation for Community Betterment.
Kris Pinkney visits every summer and shared this photo and caption, "Rusticating Bridge & Cocktail Series, July 13th, 2024, Wellesley Island, St Lawrence River, 1,000 Islands NY [©2024 Kris Pinkney]

Museums, Galleries and Theatres

We are blessed with superb entertainment opportunities on both sides of the border. Be sure to check out the schedules:

Thanks to Winkie McGowan for capturing her view at different times of the day for TI Life. [©2024 Winkie McGowan]
This photo was incorrectly credited in our Email announcing the July issue. It was actually taken by Carl Lueck when he was visiting Cherry Island near Alexandria Bay, NY. on July 9, 2024. A perfect sunset on the St. Lawrence Seaway. 

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 - because we are all volunteers - 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, our “Real Copy 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 John Street. John is here this summer and if we are lucky he will once again provide a photo essay like he did in September 2018 in "What I did on my summer vacation"
OK, Bob Gates made us smile when he posted this photo on 1000 Islands River Rats Now and Then. He suggested if you are complaining about the heat and humidity, "Come back in six months. This is Church Street in Alex Bay a couple of years ago." [©2024 Bob Gates]

Mid-way through 2024 - do you have comments about our articles this year? Be sure to send them to info@thousandislandslife.com.