TI Life in July 2015…

No complaints in July 2015…  High water, wonderful temperatures, dozens of River events, family gatherings and just plain fun!  Lots to keep you reading this month.  Be sure to download your favourites – print them out and take them down to the dock. 

Nature:  Lynn McElfresh gives a warning:  if you are afraid of snakes, do not read Slithering Rock

History:  Mary Politis spent last year trying to discover The Edgar Cayce’s 1000 Islands Link and Dr. John Carter gives us one more in his series: Patriot Chronicles: Mackenzie’s Letter to Bill Johnston

(Appropriate for the upcoming Pirate Days.)

Photography: Our thanks to Paul Holland’s Lesson in Marine Photography.

Special happenings:  Heather Chitty introduces The Puzzle of Agnes Maule Machar, as the Canadian Government designates this lady as a person of national interest; Trish Buote tells the story of Two Remarkable Donations to  the Aquatarium;  Anne (Blu) Mackintosh presents TIARA’s 40th Birthday Party! and I provide three suggestions for Summer fun for kids…

We also present two articles featuring the Poets & Writers, INK with: “Boating Adventures in the 1000 Islands” by Camille Crandall and “Summer Magic” by Robert Neulieb.

	Trish Buote - Two remarkable donations to Aquatarium Trish Buote is the director of development at Brockville’s new Aquatarium.  She brings over twenty years’ experience in the management of For Profit  and Not-for Profit organizations, including Sick Kids Foundation in Toronto and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.  Now well-known in the region, Trish also works with the RiverQuest organization to promote all the region has to offer.
	Mary Politis - The Edgar Cayce’s 1000 Islands Link Mary Politis and her husband and son have a home in Syracuse, NY. and spend the summer in Carnegie Bay, near Alexandria Bay. Mary has been a “TI Life” reader for several years and is always on the lookout for unique topics and individuals to interview. Her discovery of Edgar Cayce has taken her on a most interesting quest.
	Paul Holland - Paul Holland’s Lesson in Marine Photography Paul Holland is  a relatively new fine art photographer to the Thousand Islands.  He developed his love for photography while studying architecture at Carleton University.  Somehow that led to a career in policing, although he was still able to run an AV Production company that served the corporate and government sectors.  Paul and his wife, Janet, can often be found on the River with Paul behind his camera.
	Anne (Blu) Mackintosh - TIARA’s 40th Birthday Party! Blu Mackintosh (Anne) was born and brought up in Montreal.  In 1962, she and her Scottish husband Douglas came to the Ivy Lea area and there they raised their three sons who often come back to visit with their families.  A founding member of the Thousand Islands Area Residents Association (TIARA), Blu provided the first compilation of Canadian Islands Names, in a series of maps produced in the 1980s.  She continues to be interested in the environment and the arts in general, and TIARA and the Thousand Islands Playhouse in particular.

Poet & Writes INK Contributors

Sponsored by the Cape Vincent Arts Council, the Poet & Writers INK, meets throughout the year to encourage the fine art of writing through original works, literary feedback, and writing exercises.  Membership is free.  Those of all ages, all genre and all skill levels are encouraged to attend.  This month “TI Life” presents two writers and their works.  [For more Information contact:  www.capevincentartscouncil.org/poetsandwritersink.html]

Camille Crandall Poets & Writers INK: “Boating Adventures in the 1000 Islands” Camille Crandall resides in Cape Vincent and is originally from the Schenectady, NY area.  She was employed as Benefits Coordinator for many years and currently works part time from home as an administrator for a CPA firm in East Greenbush, NY.  Her enjoyment of writing has brought her to the Poets & Writers INK group, and she has had several pieces published in the “Thousand Islands Sun” and “What's Happening in Cape Vincent.” -

Robert Neulieb - Poets & Writers, INK: “Summer Magic” Robert Loren Neulieb received a Ph.D. in Engineering Sciences, a mathematical physics discipline, from Purdue University. While he has taught both mathematics and physics at the college level, he has worked mainly as an aerospace and railway engineer. Since 1979 he has lived, off the grid, in northern New York, using solar panels, a composting toilet and dead or diseased wood for heating. His popular published articles concern earth-sun interaction and Lepidoptera. Robert’s wife Marilyn helps organize the Poets & Writers, INK activities from June through August this year.

_______________________________________

$7.7 Million for Thousand Islands National Park…

An  announcement was made on July 6 by Gord Brown, Member of Parliament for Leeds—Grenville, on behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, that infrastructure investments totaling $7.7 million,  will be made  in our Thousand Islands National Park.  This major investment involves significant work, improving the day use areas and visitor facilities while demonstrating Parks Canada’s world leadership in conservation. 

The projected work will enable the Park to become more accessible to the 11 million urban Canadians living within a 4-hour drive. Until now, travellers, who don’t own a boat, have limited access to the Park, therefore the funding should facilitate visits from non-boaters, both on land and to the islands.

Major funding boost coming to Thousand Islands National Park, Kingston, ON, Canada / CKWS TV [http://bcove.me/bzje9orw] CKWS Newswatch, July 06, 2015 06:06 pm – See http://www.ckwstv.com/2015/07/06/major-funding-boost-coming-to-thousand-islands-national-park/

_______________________________________

Saturdays in July …

TIA:

On Saturday, July 18th, 2015, starting at 8:30am the Thousand Islands Association (TIA)  will hold their famous annual shore breakfast and annual general meeting at the Thousand Islands Playhouse, in Gananoque. Here are a few pictures from that fun event in previous years.  Tell your friends and neighbours to attend the breakfast!  (The best breakfast of the season!)  TIA provides and places shoal markers, nearly 200 of them, starting mid-way on the Bateau Channel, north of Howe Island, all the way down river to Brockville/ Morristown, on most boating channels. All expenses for the shoal marking program are covered by dues and donations – so if your propeller is important to you – Join TIA! (http://www.1000islandsassociation.net)

TIWLT and AFoCLT:

The Thousand Island Watershed Land Trust (www.tiwlt.ca) and American Friends of Canadian Land Trusts (www.afoclt.org) will present an equation day on Saturday, July 25^th, on Hen Island, in Charleston Lake, north of Ivy Lea and Lansdowne, ON.  “Learn WHAT EVERY AMERICAN PROPERTY OWNER (in Canada) needs to know about tax law, estate planning and the opportunity of donating ecological lands, cash or securities to support conservation in Canada.  Short presentations by Sandra Tassel, American Friends of Canadian Land Trusts (AFoCLT), Lynne Zulian, CPA and CA with Grant Thornton LLP, an estate planning specialist, will provide important information.  For more information see the www.tiwlt.ca. 

The Remington:

Also on Saturday, July 25th, 2015, The Frederic Remington Art Museum will be hosting a charity antique ​appraisal​  fair, from 12 PM until 4 PM.  Do you have an old ​ treasure​ that you've always wondered about? Here's your chance. ​​ ​Gerald Petro and staff from Iroquois Auctions ​will provide a verbal appraisal for $5 per item. All proceeds benefit the museum. ​In addition, for $200, Gerald Petro will give a walk-through verbal appraisal in a home, with all proceeds to benefit the museum. When selling high value items, people are asked to call, (315) 561-9777 for consultation. Petro has worked as an appraiser for 41 years. For additional information, contact the museum at (315 ) 393-2425 or email mflack@fredericremington.org.

_____________________________________

Cormorant Question

Brian Matthey is trying to determine how widespread  damage  may be in the Thousand Islands, due to Cormorants. He says, “Contrast a sunrise on the river to islands dying.” “How many people have roosting Cormorant's in their area that are killing trees and displacing other bird species?”  He also suggests that the Cormorants are depleting the baitfish populations.  He sent along a photograph of such an island near his cottage. 

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.]