B. I. News on the 'Net, November 18-December 18, 2021

Memories and More Memories 11

By Joseph A. Moore


Well, the reason for the first memory today was actually a golf match that was shortened by a rain storm last night.  The former good friend and I were competing on opposing teams, and the memory of the first trip to a home on Donegal Bay hit me in the head and caused me to dream about the patient and the issues my friend and I had.
I can tell you that the primary responsibility for this 80 year old female fell on my shoulders as the call went out to Beaver Island EMS for this patient who was experiencing chest pain.  I had been to this home a few times before, and the patient was having chest pain on each of these previous occasions.  She had been transported to the hospital before by us, and this was probably not going to be too different, but I reminded myself, “Each and every call is different, and I need to be ready for anything.”
So, when the pager went off in my living room with the emergency response car parked in my driveway, I quickly put on my EMS jacket, calling on the radio, “Echo 4 is enroute to the scene.”
Central Dispatch stated, “The patient is alone at the residence, is complaining of chest pain, and says she has already taken a nitro with no relief in pain level.’
“Copy that,” I responded on the echo car radio.
It was about a half mile from my home to Donegal Bay Road and another mile to the home, and I was traveling about 40 mph with lights and siren going as I passed the ambulance barn that had no one yet ready to bring the ambulance.

Read the rest of the story HERE

Owl Sighting

December 17, 2021

While pictures were being taken of the Wreaths Across America at the Holy Cross Cemetery, this editor received a tip about the snowy owl being in the tree out by Welke Airport.  Finishing the row of wreaths, the editor headed out to see about getting a pictures of the snowy owl.  Here is the result.

The owl was obviously worried about this editor being even two hundred plus yards away, so no closer pictures were attempted.

Wind Damage

December 18, 2021

The other day the winds were gusting above 50 mph with waves in the harbor which had white caps.  The variation of the wind speed were astounding and moving from ground level at 10 mph to 50 mph.  Besides, the power outage for the entire island with power back on to the town area in a couple of hours, the trees took down power lines and left branches and debris all over the island. 

The only example that is pretty obvious to anyone that goes to Gull Harbor is shown below.

Wreaths Across America, Island Style

(Photo and story Courtesy of KK Belfy Antokoviak)

A wreath was placed at the grave of every Veteran interred in both cemeteries. 122 at Holy Cross and 18 at the Townships Cemeteries.   Mrs. Robert, Mr Cwikel, Mr Richards and students (I'll attach pic) Catherine Sowa Meintsma location coordinator, Pam O'Brien, alvin Lafreniere, Kitty McNamara, Maeve Green, Loretta Slater, Sara Siler, Katie Garret, Jeanne Gillespie, Angel Welke, Michelle Grooter, and Kathleen Belfy Antokoviak all participated.

The wreaths come from Maine. Our island group mention above sold all wreaths needed for this year and actually exceeded the goal and have 59 sold for next year already.

"We understand we have Veterans Day in the fall and Memorial Day in the spring, but our service members sacrifice their time and safety every single day of the year to preserve our freedoms.

In many homes, there is an empty seat for one who is serving or one who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. There is no better time to express our appreciation than during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. We hope you will join us at any of our more than 2,500 participating locations to show our veterans and their families that we will not forget. We will never forget." (from Wreaths Across America website)

(Editor's note:  Pictures and video were taken of each gravesite that was assumed to be a veteran, but in the cold blustery day, there could have been those that were missed or those that were accidentally added.  This is the best that the three hours of windy and cold weather could produce.)

View the wreaths at the Township Cemetery HERE

View the wreaths at the Holy Cross Cemetery HERE

View video HERE

Weather by Joe

December 18, 2021

Good morning from Beaver Island!

At 7;30 a.m. on Carlisle Road, it is 27 degrees with humidity at 97%. The wind is from the ESE at 3 mph. The pressure is 30.17. The skies are cloudy with visibility of 6 miles.

TODAY, it is expected to have snow showers. Chance of snow is 60%. The high will be 30 degrees. Winds will be from the NE at 5 to 10 mph.

TONIGHT, it is forecast for partly cloudy skies with a low near 25 degrees. There is a chance of a few flurries tonight. The wind will be from the NNW at 5 to 10 mph.

TOMORROW, it is forecast for overcast skies with a high near freezing. Winds will be from the WSW at 10 to 15 mph.
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ON THIS DAY

On December 18, 1620, the British ship Mayflower docks at modern-day Plymouth, Massachusetts, and its passengers prepare to begin their new settlement, Plymouth Colony.
The famous Mayflower story began in 1606, when a group of reform-minded Puritans in Nottinghamshire, England, founded their own church, separate from the state-sanctioned Church of England. Accused of treason, they were forced to leave the country and settle in the more tolerant Netherlands. After 12 years of struggling to adapt and make a decent living, the group sought financial backing from some London merchants to set up a colony in America. On September 6, 1620, 102 passengers–dubbed Pilgrims by William Bradford, a passenger who would become the first governor of Plymouth Colony—crowded on the Mayflower to begin the long, hard journey to a new life in the New World.
On November 11, 1620, the Mayflower anchored at what is now Provincetown Harbor, Cape Cod. Before going ashore, 41 male passengers—heads of families, single men and three male servants—signed the famous Mayflower Compact, agreeing to submit to a government chosen by common consent and to obey all laws made for the good of the colony. Over the next month, several small scouting groups were sent ashore to collect firewood and scout out a good place to build a settlement. Around December 10, one of these groups found a harbor they liked on the western side of Cape Cod Bay. They returned to the Mayflower to tell the other passengers, but bad weather prevented them from landing until December 18.
After exploring the region, the settlers took over a cleared area previously occupied by members of a local Native American tribe, the Wampanoag. The tribe had abandoned the village several years earlier, after an outbreak of European disease. That winter of 1620-1621 was brutal, as the Pilgrims struggled to build their settlement, find food and ward off sickness. By spring, 50 of the original 102 Mayflower passengers were dead. The remaining settlers made contact with returning members of the Wampanoag tribe and in March they signed a peace treaty with a tribal chief, Massasoit. Aided by the Wampanoag, especially the English-speaking Squanto, the Pilgrims were able to plant crops—especially corn and beans—that were vital to their survival. The Mayflower and its crew left Plymouth to return to England on April 5, 1621.

Over the next several decades, more and more settlers made the trek across the Atlantic to Plymouth, which gradually grew into a prosperous shipbuilding and fishing center. In 1691, Plymouth was incorporated into the new Massachusetts Bay Association, ending its history as an independent colony.

Also, ON THIS DAY:

Following its ratification by the requisite three-quarters of the states earlier in the month, the 13th Amendment is formally adopted into the U.S. Constitution, ensuring that “neither slavery nor involuntary servitude… shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”
Before the American Civil War, Abraham Lincoln and other leaders of the anti-slavery Republican Party sought not to abolish slavery but merely to stop its extension into new territories and states in the American West. This policy was unacceptable to most Southern politicians, who believed that the growth of free states would turn the U.S. power structure irrevocably against them.
In November 1860, Lincoln’s election as president signaled the secession of seven Southern states and the formation of the Confederate States of America. Shortly after his inauguration in 1861, the Civil War began. Four more Southern states joined the Confederacy, while four border slave states in the upper South remained in the Union.
Lincoln, though he privately detested slavery, responded cautiously to the call by abolitionists for emancipation of all enslaved Americans after the outbreak of the Civil War. As the war dragged on, however, the Republican-dominated federal government began to realize the strategic advantages of emancipation: The liberation of enslaved people would weaken the Confederacy by depriving it of a major portion of its labor force, which would in turn strengthen the Union by producing an influx of manpower. With 11 Southern states seceded from the Union, there were few pro-slavery congressmen to stand in the way of such an action.
In 1862, Congress annulled the fugitive slave laws, prohibited slavery in the U.S. territories, and authorized Lincoln to employ formerly enslaved people in the army. Following the major Union victory at the Battle of Antietam in September, Lincoln issued a warning of his intent to issue an emancipation proclamation for all states still in rebellion on New Year’s Day.
That day—January 1, 1863—President Lincoln formally issued the Emancipation Proclamation, calling on the Union army to liberate all enslaved people in states still in rebellion as “an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, upon military necessity.” These three million enslaved people were declared to be “then, thenceforward, and forever free.” The proclamation exempted the border states that remained in the Union and all or parts of three Confederate states controlled by the Union army.
The Emancipation Proclamation transformed the Civil War from a war against secession into a war for “a new birth of freedom,” as Lincoln stated in his Gettysburg Address in 1863. This ideological change discouraged the intervention of France or England on the Confederacy’s behalf and enabled the Union to enlist the 180,000 African American soldiers and sailors who volunteered to fight between January 1, 1863, and the conclusion of the war.
As the Confederacy staggered toward defeat, Lincoln realized that the Emancipation Proclamation, a war measure, might have little constitutional authority once the war was over. The Republican Party subsequently introduced the 13th Amendment into Congress, and in April 1864 the necessary two-thirds of the overwhelmingly Republican Senate passed the amendment. However, the House of Representatives, featuring a higher proportion of Democrats, did not pass the amendment by a two-thirds majority until January 1865, three months before Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox.
On December 2, 1865, Alabama became the 27th state to ratify the 13th Amendment, thus giving it the requisite three-fourths majority of states’ approval necessary to make it the law of the land. Alabama, a former Confederate state, was forced to ratify the amendment as a condition for re-admission into the Union. On December 18, the 13th Amendment was officially adopted into the Constitution—246 years after the first shipload of captive Africans landed at Jamestown, Virginia, and were bought as enslaved workers.
Slavery’s legacy and efforts to overcome it have remained central issues in U.S. society and politics, particularly during the post-Civil War Reconstruction era and the civil rights movement of the 1950s and ’60s.
___________________________

WORD OF THE DAY

rationale; noun; (rash-uh-NAL)

What It Means

A rationale is an explanation or reason for something said or done.

// Senators who opposed the bill were questioned by media to uncover their rationale for voting against it.

Examples

"The casting of Chris Pratt as the voice of both Mario and Garfield has resulted in further mocking online, but his previous work as a voice artist goes some way in justifying the rationale behind these decisions. Pratt is no stranger to voice acting, having starred in both The LEGO Movie and its sequel….Pratt also voiced elf Barley in Pixar's Onward." — Andrew Waskett-Burt, Screen Rant, 5 Nov. 2021

Did You Know?

Rationale comes from Latin ratio, meaning "reason," and rationalis, "endowed with reason." Ratio is reasonably familiar as an English word for the relationship (in number, quantity, or degree) between things.

(from Merriam Webster and history dot com)

Northern Lake Michigan Islands Collaborative Meeting

Notes from the October Meetings

Ancestry Library Edition

at the Beaver Island District Library

Ancestry Library Edition was funded by a SUN grant from CCCF, BI Historical Society and BI District Library.

Beaver Island Community School Weekly Update

Friday, December 17, 2021

Boys Basketball Postponed

The Boys Basketball trip to Grand Marais has been canceled for this weekend due to tomorrow’s predicted weather conditions. The games will be rescheduled after the new year. In the meantime, stay healthy and keep practicing!

Thank You Santa’s Workshop Elves

Thanks to the time, talent, and treasure of many Islanders, the 19th Annual Santa’s Workshop went off without a hitch! In addition to the support of the Friends of Vets and the AMVETS, we’d like to give a shout out to the following elves: Theresa McDonough, Ryann Turner, Rose Martin, Tammy LaFreniere, Jessica LaFreniere, Skylar Marsh, and Lisa Gillespie. Thank you for continuing this tradition!

Wreaths Across America

On Monday, December 13th, the 4th-6th grade class and the High School Model United Nations class joined dozens of Islanders in the Wreaths Across America program. Together, they paid tribute to the Island’s veterans by placing a wreath on the grave marker of every veteran at both the St. James Township Cemetery and the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery. This was a great opportunity for our students to learn about their past and express their gratitude and respect.

Upcoming Vaccination Dates (some next week)!

In response to parents’ and Islanders requesting to get vaccinated ASAP in the face of the Omicron variant, the Beaver Island Rural Health Center is scheduling several vaccination clinics over the holidays. Because the dosage is slightly different for those who are under 12, and the boosters are available for those who are 16 and older, please note the different days for each category. In order to get your vaccine, please contact the Beaver Island Rural Health Center to schedule your appointment.

·         Mon, 12/20/21 (1st dose for 12-15; booster or 1st dose for 16 and older)

·         Tues, 12/21/21 (1st dose for 5-11 year-olds)

·         Weds, 12/22/21 (1st dose for 12-15; booster or 1st dose for 16 and older)

·         Tues, 12/28/21 (1st dose for 12-15; booster or 1st dose for 16 and older)

·         Weds, 12/29/21 (1st dose for 12-15; booster or 1st dose for 16 and older)

·         Tuesday, 1/11/22 (2nd dose for 5-11 years (but 1st dose welcome too!))

Parents—please note that the HDNW has not planned another vaccination clinic at the school for the foreseeable future. Thank you BIRHC for making this very convenient option available for our students to get vaccinated and for our Island residents to get boosted!

Parents—PLEASE Check your Child for Symptoms BEFORE School!

In order to keep our school open, we need every parent to help us out by checking your student for symptoms BEFORE you bring them to school. If your child is showing any cold, flu, or COVID-19 symptoms, please keep them at home and consider having them tested for COVID-19 either at the school or at the Health Center.

Beaver Island’s Elves!

‘Tis the season of giving…and an Island Elf has worked a deal with Dalwhinnie’s Deli for Beaver Island’s students! During the month of December, any BICS student may receive one free breakfast or dinner compliments of our own Beaver Island Elf! Thank you!

Gingerbread House Projects—Courtesy of the Beaver Island Community Center!

Today, our friends at the Beaver Island Community Center dropped off mini Gingerbread House kits for our elementary students (and there were some left over for our secondary students too). At the end of the day, we gave each elementary student a kit to take home so that our families have a fun holiday activity. Thank you BICC staff and supporters for these wonderful gifts!

Elks Power!

The Beaver Island Elks Lodge was awarded a grant to provide Power Book Bags for Island children. This program supplies students with new books three times over the school year. The books will be given out to the students just prior to Christmas, Spring, and Summer breaks. At each distribution, the students will be allowed to choose two books and will also receive a goody bag stuffed with enriching activities. The first distribution will be on December 21st here at school! Thank you Elks!

Masking Option for Winter Athletes—Testing Every Tuesday Morning

The HDNW has modified their mask order to allow student athletes who participate in weekly COVID-19 testing to not wear a mask while actively playing or practicing (they still need to wear their masks at all other times). We will be testing at 8:00 every Tuesday morning. Students can sign up for this program anytime—even if they missed the first two weeks of testing.

Holiday Events at the Community Center and BICS Student Caroling is Canceled

Out of an abundance of caution and to ensure the safety of the Island community, the Beaver Island Community Center is canceling the indoor events planned for December and we will not be caroling door to door with our students next week. However, keep an eye on the school’s FaceBook page, as there may be some singing posts!

Happy Holidays!

Stay Safe and Healthy!

Deb Pomorski
BICS Secretary
debbiep@beaverisland.k12.mi.us
231-448-2744

Waste Management Meeting

Beaver Island Waste Management Committee
Peaine Township Hall
36825 King's Hwy, Beaver Island, MI 49782
PLEASE NOTE TIME CHANGE & CORRECTED DATE:  Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at 1:30PM

DRAFT AGENDA AND CALL FOR OTHER AGENDA ITEMS

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES for October 19, 2021 (attached)

III. REPORTS
A. Budget Report & Single Stream Up-date (Tilly)
     B. Transfer Station & Recycle Center Manager Report (Marsh)

IV. ANNOUNCEMENTS (Chair)

V. OLD BUSINESS
     Committee Top Three Priorities (goals and objectives) for FY 2021/22 (Cole)

VI  NEW BUSINESS
      New & Temporary Policy Concerning Recyclable Cans and Bottles. 

VI. PUBLIC COMMENT

VII. ADJOURNMENT

Elks BI Burger Night Flyer

20 December 2021

December 20, 2021 5:00pm – 6:30 pm at the Gregg Fellowship Hall

Joan Delamater, RIP

Joan Yvonne Delamater

Joan Yvonne Delamater's life journey ended December 12 surrounded by her children. Joan was born October 28, 1940, to Frances and Earl Bussiere. She was married to Larry Delamater for 63 years. Joan and Larry had ten children, Jamie Delamater, Rick (Karen) Delamater, Wally (Sherri) Delamater, Shane Delamater, Valarie Delamater, Tamie (Danny) Gillespie, Gena (Kevin) King, Robin Delamater, Larry Delamater, Brandy (Chris) Bartley. Larry and Joan also had 27 grandchildren and 37 great grandchildren…and counting. She is preceded in death by: Larry Delamater (husband), Frances and Earl Bussiere (parents), Betty Block (Sister), Margaret Ponicky (sister), and Jewell Gillespie (grandson).

Joan was born in Houghton, MI, but spent her formative years in Grand Rapids, before moving to Six Lakes where she met and married Larry, and began their family. They spent most of their married life in the Six Lakes/Lakeview area except for a period of 8 years that they lived on Beaver Island where they made many friends and many more memories.

Joan dedicated her life to raising her family. We have never figured out how she found time for anything else but she enjoyed a wide range of interests. Besides her children, her greatest love was fabric! She was a master seamstress and quilter, and spent several years as a sewing teacher at Beaver Island school. For years Joan treasured hosting monthly sewing classes with her beloved "Sewing Girls". Her entire life she created art through her love of fabric and thread. Music, dancing and games always filled the Delamater house, and this love was passed to her children and grandchildren. Family get togethers involved friends, music, dancing, horseshoe tournaments, or card tournaments. Joan and Larry participated in Tamarack Twirler square dancers for many years and attended regular dances at the local VFW hall. Joan was curious by nature. She was driven by her love of learning to look up anything and everything, often referring to her encyclopedias, her well-worn dictionary, and her most beloved medical book. Her curiosity led her to take classes at Montcalm Community College where she enrolled in every social and political science class offered, eventually earning an Associate Degree at the age of 50. She was an avid reader of both books and daily newspapers. She loved nature and spent many years hauling her big tribe on camping trips all over the state. In her later years, she and Larry traveled to all 48 continuous states, and she snuck in a trip to Hawaii when her daughter gave birth to twins while living in Honolulu. She fed everyone who came to her home, and was known for feeding you whether you were hungry or not. She did it all…she canned, she made the best homemade bread, jams, pies and pasty. She was a sports enthusiast, for years never missing a Tigers or Pistons game. She also was a Nascar fan as long as Jimmy Johnson was driving. She never met a cat she didn't love and she never passed up a diet Coke. She stayed informed of all current events and was a lifelong proud democrat. She had great pride in all of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. They all believed they were her favorite!

A memorial and internment of her ashes are being planned for spring. In lieu of flowers, Joan would be so pleased if you sent a donation to: Southern Poverty Law Center 400 Washington Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36104

St. James Township Meeting Minutes

Draft Minutes for the December 8, 2021 regular meeting HERE

Cookie Carnival Pick-up

The Cookie Carnival elves have been busy!!  If you ordered cookies, you can pick them up tomorrow (Saturday) between 11:00 and 2:00  at the Gregg Fellowship Center.
Also available: we have some prepackaged boxes of assorted cookies:
1 dozen cookies: $7.50
1 dozen cookies + 2 brownies: $8.50
4 brownies: $2.00
Peanut brittle: $5.00
First come, first served!!  No phone call orders, please.

Forgot to mention peanut butter fudge, maple walnut fudge and home made caramels!

Weather by Joe

December 17, 2021

 

Good morning from Beaver Island!

At 7 a.m. here on Carlisle Road, it is 22 degrees with wind out of the west at 7 mph. The humidity is 78%. The pressure is 30.11. The sky is cloudy and visibility is ten miles.

TODAY, it is expected to be cloudy with a high of 27 degrees. The winds will be from the NW at 10 to 15 mph.

TONIGHT, it is forecast for cloudy skies with late night snow showers. Chance of snow is 40%. The low will be near 25 degrees. The winds will be light and variable.

TOMORROW, it is forecast for cloudy skies with snow showers in the morning. The chance of snow is 60%. The high will be near 30 degrees. The winds will be light and variable.
______________________________
ON THIS DAY
Near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Orville and Wilbur Wright make the first successful flight in history of a self-propelled, heavier-than-air aircraft on December 17, 1903. Orville piloted the gasoline-powered, propeller-driven biplane, which stayed aloft for 12 seconds and covered 120 feet on its inaugural flight.
Orville and Wilbur Wright grew up in Dayton, Ohio, and developed an interest in aviation after learning of the glider flights of the German engineer Otto Lilienthal in the 1890s. Unlike their older brothers, Orville and Wilbur did not attend college, but they possessed extraordinary technical ability and a sophisticated approach to solving problems in mechanical design. They built printing presses and in 1892 opened a bicycle sales and repair shop. Soon, they were building their own bicycles, and this experience, combined with profits from their various businesses, allowed them to pursue actively their dream of building the world’s first airplane.
After exhaustively researching other engineers’ efforts to build a heavier-than-air, controlled aircraft, the Wright brothers wrote the U.S. Weather Bureau inquiring about a suitable place to conduct glider tests. They settled on Kitty Hawk, an isolated village on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, which offered steady winds and sand dunes from which to glide and land softly. Their first glider, tested in 1900, performed poorly, but a new design, tested in 1901, was more successful. Later that year, they built a wind tunnel where they tested nearly 200 wings and airframes of different shapes and designs. The brothers’ systematic experimentations paid off–they flew hundreds of successful flights in their 1902 glider at Kill Devils Hills near Kitty Hawk. Their biplane glider featured a steering system, based on a movable rudder, that solved the problem of controlled flight. They were now ready for powered flight.
In Dayton, they designed a 12-horsepower internal combustion engine with the assistance of machinist Charles Taylor and built a new aircraft to house it. They transported their aircraft in pieces to Kitty Hawk in the autumn of 1903, assembled it, made a few further tests, and on December 14 Orville made the first attempt at powered flight. The engine stalled during take-off and the plane was damaged, and they spent three days repairing it. Then at 10:35 a.m. on December 17, in front of five witnesses, the aircraft ran down a monorail track and into the air, staying aloft for 12 seconds and flying 120 feet. The modern aviation age was born. Three more tests were made that day, with Wilbur and Orville alternately flying the airplane. Wilbur flew the last flight, covering 852 feet in 59 seconds.
During the next few years, the Wright brothers further developed their airplanes but kept a low profile about their successes in order to secure patents and contracts for their flying machines. By 1905, their aircraft could perform complex maneuvers and remain aloft for up to 39 minutes at a time. In 1908, they traveled to France and made their first public flights, arousing widespread public excitement. In 1909, the U.S. Army’s Signal Corps purchased a specially constructed plane, and the brothers founded the Wright Company to build and market their aircraft. Wilbur Wright died of typhoid fever in 1912; Orville lived until 1948.

The historic Wright brothers’ aircraft of 1903 is on permanent display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

Also, ON THIS DAY:
During World War II, U.S. Major General Henry C. Pratt issues Public Proclamation No. 21, declaring that, effective January 2, 1945, Japanese American “evacuees” from the West Coast could return to their homes.
On February 19, 1942, 10 weeks after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, authorizing the removal of any or all people from military areas “as deemed necessary or desirable.” The military in turn defined the entire West Coast, home to the majority of Americans of Japanese ancestry or citizenship, as a military area.
By June, more than 110,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly removed to remote prison camps built by the U.S. military in scattered locations around the country. For the next two and a half years, many of these Japanese Americans endured extremely difficult living conditions and poor treatment by their military guards.
During the course of World War II, 10 Americans were convicted of spying for Japan, but not one of them was of Japanese ancestry. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill to recompense each surviving internee with a tax-free check for $20,000 and an apology from the U.S. government.
___________________

WORD OF THE DAY

venerate; verb; (VEN-uh-rayt)

What It Means

Venerate means "to feel or show deep respect and honor for someone or something."

// Volunteers of the Peace Corps are venerated for their selfless dedication and contributions.

Examples

"But for those of us who venerate the written word, … a lost book is not an insignificant item gone astray…. Its value comes from the story and who we were and what we learned when we first encountered it." — Ana Veciana-Suarez, The Miami Herald, 8 Sept. 2021

Did You Know?

Venerate comes from the Latin root venerārī, which has the various meanings of "to solicit the good will of," "to worship," "to pay homage to," and "to hold in awe." That root is related to Venus, which, as a proper noun, is the name of the Roman goddess of love and beauty.

(from Merriam Webster and history dot com)

 

BITAC Meeting Canceled

Health Department of Northwest Michigan COVID-19 Update 

December 16, 2021  

Pfizer booster shot strongly recommended for anyone 16+  

As COVID-19 cases in northern Michigan – and across the state – continue to rise, officials with the Health Department of Northwest Michigan are urging residents to use caution during holiday gatherings. 

The latest COVID-19 data reported by the Health Department of Northwest Michigan has been compiled into a report to show residents a picture of COVID-19 in the community. The Case Trend Summary for November 8 – December 12 includes data for all cases, and highlights the differences between unvaccinated and vaccinated cases. Key data points from the report for the 5-week period ending December 12 include: 

·        2,322 total cases reported 

·        Of cases with a confirmatory COVID-19 test: 

o   63.7% of cases were not vaccinated (cases that do not meet the criteria of a fully vaccinated individual) 

o   68% of hospitalizations were unvaccinated individuals 

o   73.9% of COVID-19 deaths were unvaccinated individuals 

The number of cases continues to put pressure on health care systems, hospitals, businesses due to worker shortages, and schools and families. 

Throughout the state, more than 55% of residents age 5 and older are fully vaccinated (two weeks following a two-dose Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, or one week following a Johnson & Johnson vaccine). As the fully vaccinated population has increased, so have the percentage of breakthrough incidents. An infographic released from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services illustrates when more people are vaccinated, more cases may still come from the vaccinated population. 

However, the risk of infection, grave illness, and death remains significantly lower among the fully vaccinated. Munson Healthcare officials recently noted they are experiencing an   unprecedented number of hospitalizations specifically due to COVID-19. Among these COVID-driven hospitalizations, many patients are being elevated to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where they may require the support of a ventilator to assist with breathing difficulties. As reflected in current data, the vast majority of patients who've been hospitalized at Munson Healthcare for COVID-19 are unvaccinated. 

“Vaccination is still the best tool we have to moderate the impact of this pandemic,” said Dr. Josh Meyerson, Medical Director with the Health Department of Northwest Michigan. “Vaccines protect us from severe disease. Booster doses have shown to further reduce the risk of disease and reduce infection rates. I encourage everyone to get vaccinated, including your booster dose as soon as you are eligible.” 

In addition to getting vaccinated, Dr. Meyerson urges everyone to continue to practice mitigation measures including masking at work and indoor public places. Further, residents should stay home if they have symptoms such as chills, fever, or mild respiratory/flu-like illness. Get tested and return to work, school or socializing once your test is negative and you’re feeling better, or if you test positive wait 10 days after your symptoms started before ending isolation. If you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 (i.e., a close contact), take precautions even if you are vaccinated or otherwise do not need to quarantine. 

COVID-19 vaccinations – including booster shots – are widely available at pharmacies, health care providers and health department clinics. For a list of vaccine providers and locations in Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet and Otsego counties, click here. To schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment with the Health Department of Northwest Michigan exclusively for children 5 to 11 years old, click here. To schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment with the health department for anyone 12 and older, click here. A parent/guardian must accompany anyone younger than 18 to a COVID-19 clinic. Please bring an insurance card to the appointment. Anyone with questions or unable to find a time or date that works for them and/or their child may call the health department at 800-432-4121. 

To find a test site in the area, visit http://www.nwhealth.org/covid19main.html. 

Stay up to date on the latest information in the Health Department of Northwest Michigan jurisdiction by liking and following our Facebook page and visiting our COVID-19 Data Dashboard. To locate a testing facility, visit the Michigan COVID-19 Test Finder website. To track the risk levels of COVID-19 pandemic indicators, visit the MI Safe Start Map website. For more information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, visit the MDHHS vaccine website or the CDC vaccine website.

LAUREL JOHNSON, M.Ed, CHES

Community Health Coordinator, Public Information Officer

3434 M-119, Suite A, Harbor Springs, MI 49740

Office: 231-347-5628 

www.nwhealth.org

Munson Healthcare Vaccinated vs. Unvaccinated

COVID COUNTS

Case trends Graphs

Northern Lights All-League Soccer & Volleyball Teams

December 16, 2021

Northern Lights League, All League Soccer Teams 2021
Teams: Beaver Island, Big Bay de Noc, Grand Marais, Hannahville, Mackinac Island, Munising Baptist, Ojibwe


1st Team:
Cam Miller Big Bay, Player of the Year/Team Captain
Josh Maloney Munising Baptist
Ryan Swift Munising Baptist
Xander Spry Hannahville
Jared Robert Beaver Island
Alix Bleau Big Bay
Joel Gillespie Big Bay
Marquis Harmon Ojibwe
Shaye Halfaday Hannahville
Harrison Myers Mackinac Island
Vincent Davis Mackinac Island
Matthew Cowell Mackinac Island

Honorable Mention Team:
Annileece Lofquist Hannahville
Mequon Jackson Hannahville
McKenna Turner Beaver Island
Micah Richards Beaver Island
Brayden Thill Big Bay
Piper Jones Big Bay
Ethan Bell Grand Marais
Derby Kromer Mackinac Island
Aidan Dean Beaver Island
Cam Pederson Big Bay
Emma Swift Munising Baptist
Skylar Graves Munising Baptist
Teagan Lawrence Grand Marais
Aiden Yiirs Ojibwe
Manuel Pascuzzi Ojibwe

Northern Light League All-League Volleyball Teams 2021:


Teams: Beaver Island, Big Bay De Noc, Hannahville, Mackinac Island,
Maplewood Baptist, Munising Baptist, Ojibwe
The All-League teams are selected by all coaches from each of the Northern Lights League schools

 

1st Team:
Chloe May Maplewood Baptist, Player of the Year/Team Captain
Halie Miller Maplewood Baptist
Alix Bleau Big Bay de Noc
Katelyn DeKeyser Big Bay de Noc
Clara Chambers Mackinac Island
Olga Burton Beaver Island

2nd Team:
Emma Swift Munising Baptist
Annileece Lofquist Hannahville
Maggie Jentoft Maplewood Baptist
Autumn Kuzmik Ojibwe
Alyssa Martin Beaver Island
Makayla Rickley Mackinac Island

Honorable Mentions:
Zoe Moser Munising Baptist
Dezeree Lattergrass Hannahville
Kayley Annand Ojibwe

Weather by Joe

December 16, 2021

Good morning from Beaver Island!

Here on Carlisle Road at just a little before 6 a.m., the power is out. The wind must have done something to do this. The gusty winds are pretty obvious with the sounds outside the house. It's 53 degrees outside right now with winds showing on the ground level at 15 mph from the S. The humidity is at 87%. The pressure is 29.18. It's cloudy and visibility is ten miles.

TODAY, it is expected to continue to be cloudy and windy with a morning his in the middle 50's. The temperatures are expected to drop down throughout the day to near freezing. The winds will be from the WSW at 25 to 40 mph with gusts over 50 mph.

TONIGHT, it is forecast for continued wind with clouds decreasing. Winds will continue to be strong at 25 to 35 mph with gusts of 40 mph.

TOMORROW, it is forecast for partly cloudy skies becoming overcast by the afternoon. The high will be in the upper 20's. The wind will be from the NW at 10 to 20 mph.
We're in for a really windy day and night here on Beaver Island as well as NW Michigan.
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ON THIS DAY

In Boston Harbor, a group of Massachusetts colonists disguised as Mohawk Indians board three British tea ships and dump 342 chests of tea into the harbor.
The midnight raid, popularly known as the “Boston Tea Party,” was in protest of the British Parliament’s Tea Act of 1773, a bill designed to save the faltering East India Company by greatly lowering its tea tax and granting it a virtual monopoly on the American tea trade. The low tax allowed the East India Company to undercut even tea smuggled into America by Dutch traders, and many colonists viewed the act as another example of taxation tyranny.
When three tea ships, the Dartmouth, the Eleanor, and the Beaver, arrived in Boston Harbor, the colonists demanded that the tea be returned to England. After Massachusetts Governor Thomas Hutchinson refused, Patriot leader Samuel Adams organized the “tea party” with about 60 members of the Sons of Liberty, his underground resistance group. The British tea dumped in Boston Harbor on the night of December 16 was valued at some $18,000.

Parliament, outraged by the blatant destruction of British property, enacted the Coercive Acts, also known as the Intolerable Acts, in 1774. The Coercive Acts closed Boston to merchant shipping, established formal British military rule in Massachusetts, made British officials immune to criminal prosecution in America, and required colonists to quarter British troops. The colonists subsequently called the first Continental Congress to consider a united American resistance to the British.

Also, ON THIS DAY:
On December 16, 1944, the Germans launch the last major offensive of the war, Operation Autumn Mist, also known as the Ardennes Offensive and the Battle of the Bulge, an attempt to push the Allied front line west from northern France to northwestern Belgium. The Battle of the Bulge, so-called because the Germans created a “bulge” around the area of the Ardennes forest in pushing through the American defensive line, was the largest fought on the Western front.
The Germans threw 250,000 soldiers into the initial assault, 14 German infantry divisions guarded by five panzer divisions-against a mere 80,000 Americans. Their assault came in early morning at the weakest part of the Allied line, an 80-mile poorly protected stretch of hilly, woody forest (the Allies simply believed the Ardennes too difficult to traverse, and therefore an unlikely location for a German offensive). Between the vulnerability of the thin, isolated American units and the thick fog that prevented Allied air cover from discovering German movement, the Germans were able to push the Americans into retreat.
One particularly effective German trick was the use of English-speaking German commandos who infiltrated American lines and, using captured U.S. uniforms, trucks, and jeeps, impersonated U.S. military and sabotaged communications. The ploy caused widespread chaos and suspicion among the American troops as to the identity of fellow soldiers—even after the ruse was discovered. Even General Omar Bradley himself had to prove his identity three times–by answering questions about football and Betty Grable—before being allowed to pass a sentry point.
The battle raged for three weeks, resulting in a massive loss of American and civilian life. Nazi atrocities abounded, including the murder of 72 American soldiers by SS soldiers in the Ardennes town of Malmedy. Historian Stephen Ambrose estimated that by war’s end, “Of the 600,000 GIs involved, almost 20,000 were killed, another 20,000 were captured, and 40,000 were wounded.” The United States also suffered its second-largest surrender of troops of the war: More than 7,500 members of the 106th Infantry Division capitulated at one time at Schnee Eifel. The devastating ferocity of the conflict also made desertion an issue for the American troops; General Eisenhower was forced to make an example of Private Eddie Slovik, the first American executed for desertion since the Civil War.
The war would not end until better weather enabled American aircraft to bomb and strafe German positions.
_____________________
WORD OF THE DAY

abrasive; adjective; (uh-BRAY-siv)

What It Means

Abrasive means, literally, "causing damage or wear by rubbing, grinding, or scraping." Figuratively, it is used to describe people or things that are unpleasant or irritating.
// The powder might seem abrasive, but when used as instructed, it will remove dirt without damaging the surface.
// Customer service requires being able to satisfy the polite subscribers but also the abrasive ones who argue with the terms of agreement.
Examples

"During the late fall and winter, frequent snowfall and abrasive sidewalk salt can damage the design of a holiday doormat within weeks." — Valerie Jacobsen, KDVR (Denver, Colorado), 29 Oct. 2021

Did You Know?

Once upon a time, English had abrade and abrase. While abrade remains a familiar word, abrase is rare but survives in abrasive. Both verbs come from abrādere, meaning "to remove by rubbing" or "to scrape off."

(from Merriam Webster and history dot com)

B. I. District Library Announces New Books

December 15, 2021

See what's new this week at the Beaver Island District Library at:

There are three new bestsellers, 41 new children's books, and ten other new books.

The new bestsellers this week are "Wish You Were Here: A Novel," "Autopsy: A Scarpetta Novel," and "The Personal Librarian."

Beaver Island Emergency Services Authority

Thursday, December 16, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. at Peaine Township Hall

Agenda for the Meeting

Minutes from the previous meeting

BIEMS BUDG VS ACT 21-22 11-30-21 12-13-21

BIEMS GF CHK NOV 2021

BIESA dba BIFD GF CHK NOV 2021

FIRE DEPARTMENT BUDGET VS ACTUAL NOV 2021-2022 12-14-21

Pocket Gardens

December 14, 2021

The editor took a picture of each of the pocket gardens beginning on the Main Street on the inland side of the road first, and then coming back and taking pictures of the few on the harbor side of the road.  The following are the favorites of this editor as taken in daylight.

The above are not in any particular order.

View video of all the pocket gardens HERE

Note for the video:  The video is shorter than it appears.  Some glitch on the video making software appears to make the end quite long with nothing there.  The video is complete, even though the blank ending is there. 

Snowy Owl Story

December 14, 2021

A quick flag down and a tip was given first about the location of the owl.  Next, the owl was relaxing on the pallets at the BIBCO parking lot, so  few pictures were taken.  Then, a boat company employee was doing his job and brought a van to the parking lot, which, of course, was parked right between the photographer and the owl, so the owl took off.  The surprised photographer was not ready to take a photo of the flying owl, and the owl was moving quite quickly toward the soccer field.

Looking at the trees near the parking lot, and the county building, and eventually driving up to the corner of Donegal Bay and the Kings Highway, my cell phone rang.  This call was yet another friend asking if this photographer had seen the owl in the top of a tree between the county building and the BIBCO parking lot. The photographer took the course of making an illegal U-turn near the school as the skies were getting dark and no traffice was seen.

The evening was windy and the tree with owl was swaying in the breeze.  The darkness was the enemy, but the photo was needed.

There, in the very top of the tree was the same snowy owl as the sky became quite dark.  Several pictures were taken, but the lack of light was causing the focus to be very difficult.

Weather by Joe

December 15, 2021

Good morning from Beaver Island!

Here on Carlisle Road at 7 a.m., it is 39 degrees with humidity at 99%. The wind is from the ENE at 4 mph. The pressure is 29.97. It is cloudy, and visibility is seven miles.

TODAY, it is expected to be rainy throughout the day with a high near 50 degrees. Chance of rain is 70%. The wind will be from the SSE at 10 to 15 mph.

TONIGHT, it is forecast for a steady rain. Overnight there will be wind and showers. The chance of rain is 80%, The South winds will become strong at 15 to 25 mph increasing to 25 to 35 mph with possible gusts to 50 mph.

TOMORROW, it is forecast for cloudy skies with gusty winds. The morning high in the upper 40's will begin to drop to near freezing. The wind will be from the WSW at 24 to 35 mph with occasional gusts to near 50 mph.
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ON THIS DAY

Following ratification by the state of Virginia, the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, known collectively as the Bill of Rights, become the law of the land.
In September 1789, the first Congress of the United States approved 12 amendments to the U.S. Constitution and sent them to the states for ratification. The amendments were designed to protect the basic rights of U.S. citizens, guaranteeing the freedom of speech, press, assembly, and exercise of religion; the right to fair legal procedure and to bear arms; and that powers not delegated to the federal government would be reserved for the states and the people.
Influenced by the English Bill of Rights of 1689, the Bill of Rights was also drawn from Virginia’s Declaration of Rights, drafted by George Mason in 1776. Mason, a native Virginian, was a lifelong champion of individual liberties, and in 1787 he attended the Constitutional Convention and criticized the final document for lacking constitutional protection of basic political rights. In the ratification struggle that followed, Mason and other critics agreed to support the Constitution in exchange for the assurance that amendments would be passed immediately.

On December 15, 1791, Virginia became the 10th of 14 states to approve 10 of the 12 amendments, thus giving the Bill of Rights the majority of state ratification necessary to make it legal. Of the two amendments not ratified, the first concerned the population system of representation, while the second prohibited laws varying the payment of congressional members from taking effect until an election intervened. The first of these two amendments was never ratified, while the second was finally ratified more than 200 years later, in 1992.

Also, ON THIS DAY:
After many years of successfully resisting white efforts to destroy him and the Sioux people, the Sioux leader and holy man Sitting Bull is killed by Indian police at the Standing Rock reservation in South Dakota.
One of the most famous Native Americans of the 19th century, Sitting Bull (Tatanka Iyotake) was a fierce enemy of Anglo-Americans from a young age. Deeply devoted to the traditional ways, Sitting Bull believed that contact with non-Indians undermined the strength and identity of the Sioux and would lead to their ultimate decline. However, Sitting Bull’s tactics were generally more defensive than aggressive, especially as he grew older and became a Sioux leader. Fundamentally, Sitting Bull and those associated with his tribe wished only to be left alone to pursue their traditional ways, but the Anglo settlers’ growing interest in the land and the resulting confinement of Native Americans to government-controlled reservations inevitably led to conflicts. Sitting Bull’s refusal to follow an 1875 order to bring his people to the Sioux reservation directly led to the famous Battle of the Little Bighorn, during which the Sioux and Cheyenne wiped out five troops of Custer’s 7th Cavalry.
After the Battle of the Little Bighorn, Sitting Bull and his followers fled to Canada for four years. Faced with mass starvation among his people, Sitting Bull finally returned to the United States and surrendered in 1883. Sitting Bull was assigned to the Standing Rock reservation in present-day South Dakota, where he maintained considerable power despite the best efforts of the Indian bureau agents to undermine his influence. When the apocalyptic spiritual revival movement known as the Ghost Dance began to grow in popularity among the Sioux in 1890, Indian agents feared it might lead to a Native American uprising. Wrongly believing that Sitting Bull was the driving force behind the Ghost Dance, agent James McLaughlin sent Indian police to arrest the chief at his small cabin on the Grand River.
The police rousted Sitting Bull from his bed at 6:00 in the morning, hoping to spirit him away before his guards and neighbors knew what had happened. When the fifty-nine-year-old chief refused to go quietly, a crowd gathered and a few young men threatened the Indian police. Someone fired a shot that hit one of the Indian police; they retaliated by shooting Sitting Bull in the chest and head, killing him instantly. Before the ensuing gunfight ended, twelve other Native Americans were dead and three were wounded.
Sitting Bull was buried in a far corner of the post cemetery at Fort Yates. Two weeks later, the army brutally suppressed the Ghost Dance movement with the massacre of a band of Sioux at Wounded Knee.
_______________________

WORD OF THE DAY

talisman; noun; (TAL-iss-mun)

What It Means

A talisman is something that is believed to have magic powers and brings good fortune.

// In ancient times, the gemstone was worn as a talisman to avert evil.

Examples

"Brooklyn-born [Margaret Wise Brown] … demonstrated her quirky personality early on, once toting a rabbit in a basket onto a train. (This rabbit became a talisman, as Brown wrote 26 books whose titles bore the words bunny or rabbit.)" — Kirkus Reviews, 1 Oct. 2021

Did You Know?

The English language may have borrowed talisman from French, Spanish, or Italian; all three include similar-looking words for a lucky charm that derive from an Arabic word for a charm, ṭilsam. Ṭilsam traces to ancient Greek telein, which means "to initiate into the mysteries."

(From Merriam Webster and history dot com)

Community Investment Program for Beaver Island Elks, Lodge 2886

December 13, 2021

Message for Subscribers

December 14, 2021

While this is the busy holiday season, the editor requests that you check your records and renew your subscription if you are currently not paid up to date. There seem to be almost half of the subscribers have expired, and the new year of 2022 will be difficult if there are not enough supporters to help cover the costs of the video server, and the website cost.  Please check your records and re-subscribe if you are expired.

Historical video has stopped as of the last power outages and the surges that destroyed the power supply on the computer broadcasting the video to the Beaver Island TV website.

BICS Board Meeting

December 13, 2021, at 6:30 p.m.

Board Members

Superintendent

View the packet HERE

View video of the meeting HERE

Weather by Joe

December 14, 2021

Good morning from Beaver Island!

On Carlisle Road at 6:30 a.m., it is 34 degrees with wind from the E at 4 mph. Humidity is at 92%. The pressure is 30.49. The sky is cloudy with visibility at ten miles.

TODAY, it is expected to be cloudy with a high near 40 degrees. The wind will be from the ESE at 10 to 15 mph.

TONIGHT, it is forecast for cloudy skies with occasional showers overnight. Chance of rain is 50%. The low will be in the upper 30's. The wind will be from the SE at 10 to 20 mph.

TOMORROW, it is forecast for overcast skies with rain showers at times. Chance of rain is 60%. The high will be near 50 degrees. The wind will be from the SSE at 10 to 15 mph.
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ON THIS DAY

On December 14, 1911, Norwegian Roald Amundsen becomes the first explorer to reach the South Pole, beating his British rival, Robert Falcon Scott.
Amundsen, born in Borge, near Oslo, in 1872, was one of the great figures in polar exploration. In 1897, he was first mate on a Belgian expedition that was the first ever to winter in the Antarctic. In 1903, he guided the 47-ton sloop Gjöa through the Northwest Passage and around the Canadian coast, the first navigator to accomplish the treacherous journey. Amundsen planned to be the first man to the North Pole, and he was about to embark in 1909 when he learned that the American Robert Peary had achieved the feat.
Amundsen completed his preparations and in June 1910 sailed instead for Antarctica, where the English explorer Robert F. Scott was also headed with the aim of reaching the South Pole. In early 1911, Amundsen sailed his ship into Antarctica’s Bay of Whales and set up base camp 60 miles closer to the pole than Scott. In October, both explorers set off—Amundsen using sleigh dogs, and Scott employing Siberian motor sledges, Siberian ponies, and dogs. On December 14, 1911, Amundsen’s expedition won the race to the Pole and returned safely to base camp in late January.
Scott’s expedition was less fortunate. The motor sleds broke down, the ponies had to be shot, and the dog teams were sent back as Scott and four companions continued on foot. On January 18, 1912, they reached the pole only to find that Amundsen had preceded them by over a month. Weather on the return journey was exceptionally bad—two members perished—and a storm later trapped Scott and the other two survivors in their tent only 11 miles from their base camp. Scott’s frozen body was found later that year.
After his historic Antarctic journey, Amundsen established a successful shipping business. He later made attempts to become the first explorer to fly over the North Pole. In 1925, in an airplane, he flew within 150 miles of the goal. In 1926, he passed over the North Pole in a dirigible just three days after American explorer Richard E. Byrd had apparently done so in an aircraft. In 1996, a diary that Byrd had kept on the flight was found that seemed to suggest that the he had turned back 150 miles short of its goal because of an oil leak, making Amundsen’s dirigible expedition the first flight over the North Pole.

In 1928, Amundsen lost his life while trying to rescue a fellow explorer whose dirigible had crashed at sea near Spitsbergen, Norway.

Also, ON THIS DAY:
On December 14, 1939, the League of Nations, the international peacekeeping organization formed at the end of World War I, expels the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in response to the Soviets’ invasion of Finland on November 30.
Although the League of Nations was more or less the brainchild of President Woodrow Wilson, the United States, which was to have sat on the Executive Council, never joined. Isolationists in the Senate—put off by America’s intervention in World War I, which they felt was more of a European civil war than a true world war—prevented American participation. While the League was born with the exalted mission of preventing another “Great War,” it proved ineffectual, being unable to protect China from a Japanese invasion or Ethiopia from an Italian one. The League was also useless in reacting to German remilitarization, which was a violation of the Treaty of Versailles, the document that formally set the peace terms for the end of World War I.
Germany and Japan voluntarily withdrew from the League in 1933, and Italy left in 1937. The true imperial designs of the Soviet Union soon became apparent with its occupation of eastern Poland in September of 1939, ostensibly with the intention of protecting Russian “blood brothers,” Ukrainians and Byelorussians, who were supposedly menaced by the Poles. Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were then terrorized into signing “mutual assistance” pacts, primarily one-sided agreements that gave the USSR air and naval bases in those countries. But the invasion of Finland, where no provocation or pact could credibly be adduced to justify the aggression, resulted in worldwide reaction. President Roosevelt, although an “ally” of the USSR, condemned the invasion, causing the Soviets to withdraw from the New York World’s Fair. And finally, the League of Nations, drawing almost its last breath, expelled it.
________________________________
WORD OF THE DAY

flippant; adjective; (FLIP-unt)

What It Means
Flippant means "lacking proper respect or seriousness."

// The coach made a flippant response to the media's questions about the unexpected loss.

Examples
"Clearly, today's internet is unfathomably faster than it once was, but that raises an important question: Just how much internet speed do you actually need? The flippant answer is as much as you can get...." — Dave Johnson, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2021
.
Did You Know?

Flippant is believed to come from flip, which, in turn, is a supposed imitation of the sound of something flipping. The earliest senses of the adjective are "nimble" and "limber." One can be flippant not only on one's feet but in speech—that is to say, their words flow easily. Such flippancy was considered a good thing at first; however, people who speak freely can sometimes seem too talkative, and even impertinent. The positive sense of flippant has slipped from use, but the "disrespectful" sense still flows.

(from Merriam Webster and history dot com)

Snowy Owl 2 Days in a Row

Not seen on Monday, but Saturday and Sunday..

Latest COVID Update from NWM Health Department

December 13, 2021

12.13.2021 COVID Update

12.13.2021 COVID Case Counts

Carol Bearss' Address

Carole Bearss

Pineview Cottage #102

3498 Harbor-Petoskey Road

Harbor Springs MI

49740

This meeting and the Peaine Meeting are Canceled due to lack of quorum for Peaine Township!

Special St James Township Meeting
 (Joint with Peaine Township)
Tuesday December 14th, 2021 – 6:30PM Peaine Township Hall

View the meeting notice HERE

Weather by Joe

December 13, 2021

Good morning from Beaver Island!

Right now at 7 a.m. on Carlisle Road, it is 40 degrees with humidity at 84%. The wind is from the NNE at 4 mph. the pressure is 29.88. The sky is clear and visibility is ten miles.

TODAY, it is expected to be a sunny day with a high in the lower 40's. The wind will be from the WSW at 10 to 20 mph.

TONIGHT, it is forecast for partly cloudy skies becoming cloudy overnight with a low near freezing. Winds will be light and variable.

TOMORROW, it is forecast for cloudy skies with a high near 40 degrees. The wind will be from the ESE at 10 to 15 mph.
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ON THIS DAY

English seaman Francis Drake sets out from Plymouth, England, with five ships and 164 men on a mission to raid Spanish holdings on the Pacific coast of the New World and explore the Pacific Ocean. Three years later, Drake’s return to Plymouth marked the first circumnavigation of the earth by a British explorer.
After crossing the Atlantic, Drake abandoned two of his ships in South America and then sailed into the Straits of Magellan with the remaining three. A series of devastating storms besieged his expedition in the treacherous straits, wrecking one ship and forcing another to return to England. Only The Golden Hind reached the Pacific Ocean, but Drake continued undaunted up the western coast of South America, raiding Spanish settlements and capturing a rich Spanish treasure ship.
Drake then continued up the western coast of North America, searching for a possible northeast passage back to the Atlantic. Reaching as far north as present-day Washington before turning back, Drake paused near San Francisco Bay in June 1579 to repair his ship and prepare for a journey across the Pacific. Calling the land “Nova Albion,” Drake claimed the territory for Queen Elizabeth I.
In July, the expedition set off across the Pacific, visiting several islands before rounding Africa’s Cape of Good Hope and returning to the Atlantic Ocean. On September 26, 1580, The Golden Hind returned to Plymouth, England, bearing treasure, spice, and valuable information about the world’s great oceans. Drake was the first captain to sail his own ship all the way around the world–the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan had sailed three-fourths of the way around the globe earlier in the century but had been killed in the Philippines, leaving the Basque navigator Juan Sebastián de Elcano to complete the journey.

In 1581, Queen Elizabeth I knighted Drake, the son of a tenant farmer, during a visit to his ship. The most renowned of the Elizabethan seamen, Sir Francis Drake later played a crucial role in the defeat of the Spanish Armada.

Also, ON THIS DAY:
Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels records in his journal his contempt for the Italians’ treatment of Jews in Italian-occupied territories. “The Italians are extremely lax in their treatment of Jews. They protect Italian Jews both in Tunis and in occupied France and won’t permit their being drafted for work or compelled to wear the Star of David.”
Joseph Goebbels had made the persecution, and ultimately the extermination, of Jews a personal priority from the earliest days of the war, often recording in his diary such statements as: “They are no longer people but beasts.” “Their destruction will go hand in hand with the destruction of our enemies.” “[T]he Jews… are now being evacuated eastward. The procedure is pretty barbaric and is not to be described here more definitely. Not much will remain of the Jews.” It was on his recommendation that all Jews in occupied Paris be forced to wear a yellow star on the left side of their coats or jackets in order to identify and humiliate them.
With Italy’s failing fortunes militarily, Benito Mussolini needed to stress the Italians’ “superiority” in some sense, and so began to mimic many of the racial and anti-Jewish legislation of the Nazis. Nevertheless, Mussolini never had the stomach—or the conviction—for the extremes of Goebbels, Goering and Hitler. And certainly the majority of the Italian people never subscribed to the growing anti-Semitic rhetoric of the regime. In fact, the Italians refused to deport Jews from Italy—or from Italian-occupied Croatia or France—to Auschwitz.
The majority of Italians’ courage to reject the worst of fascist ideology—its anti-Semitism—remains one bright spot in Italy’s otherwise appalling World War II record.
___________________________
WORD OF THE DAY

beleaguer: verb; (bih-LEE-gur)

What It Means
Beleaguer means "to trouble or harass."

// The coach, beleaguered by the media and fans for his poor decision-making during games, has been fired.

Examples

"Pharmacists, some of whom already are financially beleaguered, say they can't afford an additional, unexpected hit that takes away as much as 50% of their annual profit." — Darrel Rowland, The Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal, 31 Oct. 2021

Did You Know?

Beleaguer comes from the Dutch word belegeren. Leger means "camp" and the prefix be-means "about" or "around." Belegeren, by definition, is a neutral verb ("to camp around"); however, beleaguer implies trouble. It is also synonymous with besiege.

(from Merriam Webster and history dot com)

Church Services 12/12/2021

Mass from Holy Cross

Jacque LaFreniere did the reading and the prayers....Father Peter read the Gospel

Father Peter Wigton gave the sermon

View video of the Mass HERE

Beaver Island Christian Church Service

The Advent Candles were lit, and there were three readers.

The video of the sermon would not play with enough volume to make it work, so it was skipped.  The link is on the following page.

View video of the service and the sermon HERE

COVID Totals

December 12, 2021

Beaver Island has an average of one person testing positive per day during the month of December so far.  Reported cases are totaling 12 cases in 12 days and include all the reported cases on the island.  This is the highest rate since the beginning of the COVID pandemic for Beaver Island.  It would seem that wearing a mask is pretty important as is getting vaccinated.  Especially since the greatest majority of those hospitalized in the Munson health system are unvaccinated, and so are the greatest majority of those who die from this disease.  As a matter of fact, 100% of those who passed away in this last month in the Munson system were unvaccinated.  Hopefully, you will take this to heart and begin to return to the recommended procedures that were adopted by both townships when this pandemic began.

Get vacccinated with a booster if you qualify, wear a mask when indoors in a public place, keep social distancing, and wash your hands as well as try to keep your hands away from your face.  Not to hard if you want to help our community from continuing in this high rate of infection.

From the BIRHC website:

*As of December 2021, all reported test results include those from the BI Community School.

Total Tests Performed Total Patients Positive Total Negative Results Tests Results Pending Patients Hospitalized Patients Deceased
54
12
42
0
0
0

Weather by Joe

December 12, 2021

Good morning from Beaver Island!

Right now at 6 a.m. on Carlisle Road, it is 32 degrees with wind from the SSE at 9 mph. The humidity is at 92%. The pressure is 29.79. The sky is partly cloudy, and visibility is ten miles.

TODAY, it is expected to be mix of clouds and sun with a high near 40 degrees. Wind will be from the SW at 20 to 30 mph with higher gusts.

TONIGHT, it is forecast for cloudy skies clearing as the night progresses. The low will be in the high 30'a. Winds will continue from the SW at 15 to 25 mph.

TOMORROW, it is forecast for sunshine with a high in the upper 30's. The wind will continue to be strong at 10 to 20 mph from the WSW.
_______________________

ON THIS DAY

Two years after it was stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris, Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece The Mona Lisa is recovered inside Italian waiter Vincenzo Peruggia’s hotel room in Florence. Peruggia had previously worked at the Louvre and had participated in the heist with a group of accomplices dressed as Louvre janitors on the morning of August 21, 1911.
Leonardo da Vinci, one of the great Italian Renaissance painters, completed The Mona Lisa, a portrait of the wife of wealthy Florentine citizen Francesco del Gioconda, in 1504. The painting, also known as La Gioconda, depicts the figure of a woman with an enigmatic facial expression that is both aloof and alluring, seated before a visionary landscape.

After the recovery of The Mona Lisa, Peruggia was convicted in Italy of the robbery and spent just 14 months in jail. The Mona Lisa was eventually returned to the Louvre, where it remains today, exhibited behind bulletproof glass. It is arguably the most famous painting in the world and is seen by millions of visitors every year.

Also, ON THIS DAY
Italian physicist and radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi succeeds in sending the first radio transmission across the Atlantic Ocean, disproving detractors who told him that the curvature of the earth would limit transmission to 200 miles or less. The message–simply the Morse-code signal for the letter “s”–traveled more than 2,000 miles from Poldhu in Cornwall, England, to Newfoundland, Canada.
Born in Bologna, Italy, in 1874 to an Italian father and an Irish mother, Marconi studied physics and became interested in the transmission of radio waves after learning of the experiments of the German physicist Heinrich Hertz. He began his own experiments in Bologna beginning in 1894 and soon succeeded in sending a radio signal over a distance of 1.5 miles. Receiving little encouragement for his experiments in Italy, he went to England in 1896. He formed a wireless telegraph company and soon was sending transmissions from distances farther than 10 miles. In 1899, he succeeded in sending a transmission across the English Channel. That year, he also equipped two U.S. ships to report to New York newspapers on the progress of the America’s Cup yacht race. That successful endeavor aroused widespread interest in Marconi and his wireless company.
Marconi’s greatest achievement came on December 12, 1901, when he received a message sent from England at St. John’s, Newfoundland. The transatlantic transmission won him worldwide fame. Ironically, detractors of the project were correct when they declared that radio waves would not follow the curvature of the earth, as Marconi believed. In fact, Marconi’s transatlantic radio signal had been headed into space when it was reflected off the ionosphere and bounced back down toward Canada. Much remained to be learned about the laws of the radio wave and the role of the atmosphere in radio transmissions, and Marconi would continue to play a leading role in radio discoveries and innovations during the next three decades.
In 1909, he was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in physics with the German radio innovator Ferdinand Braun. After successfully sending radio transmissions from points as far away as England and Australia, Marconi turned his energy to experimenting with shorter, more powerful radio waves. He died in 1937, and on the day of his funeral all British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) stations were silent for two minutes in tribute to his contributions to the development of radio.
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WORD OF THE DAY

enigma; noun; (ih-NIG-muh)

What It Means

An enigma is someone or something that is difficult to understand or explain.
// The formation of the craters on the planet is an enigma to astrophysicists.

Examples

"[Bob Dylan] remains shrouded in mystery—a 21st-century enigma in his line of work. Like always, his evocative and striking songs are crushing and imaginative. But this time, he opens the door a little bit more than usual, letting us see pieces of himself that usually get buried." — Danielle Grady, The Louisville (Kentucky) Eccentric Observer, 27 Oct. 2021
.
Did You Know?

Enigma comes from a Greek word that means "to speak in riddles." It applies to things, as well as to people, that puzzle one's mind. Egypt's ancient pyramids and quantum mechanics, for example, might be described as enigmas, as well as physicist Stephen Hawking. In these uses, the word's meaning is a figurative extension of the original "riddle" sense.

From Merriam Webster and history dot com)

Funeral Mass for Mike Purdue

December 11, 2021, at 11 am

The Funeral Mass for Mike Purdue was today at the St. Mary's Cathedral.  The Mass was quite interesting to watch and the sermon was very good.  Ryan Wojan made comments about "This is Mike!"  Christie Heller Purdue got up and thanked everyone for their love and prayers, and continued to ask for prayers and memories to continue.

St, Mary's Cathedral

Ryan Wojan's "That is Mike"

Christie Heller Purdue thanks everyone for their love and prayers

Funeral Mass for Mike Purdue

Weather by Joe

December 11. 2021

Good morning from Beaver Island!

At 6:30 a.m. here on Carlisle Road, it is 35 degrees with wind from the NNE at 5 mph. The humidity is at 99%. The pressure is 29.10. It is cloudy and visibility is 3 miles.

TODAY, it is expected to have a mix of rain and snow in the morning with snow in the afternoon. The chance of precipitation is at 90%. The temperature will be in the middle 30's. The wind will be from the NNW at 20 to 30 mph.

TONIGHT, it is forecast for clear skies with a low near freezing. The wind will switch to the W at 15 to 25 mph with higher gusts possible.

TOMORROW, it is forecast for a sunny day with a few afternoon clouds. The high will be near 40 degrees. The wind will be from the SW at 15 to 25 mph with high gusts possible.
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ON THIS DAY

After ruling for less than one year, Edward VIII becomes the first English monarch to voluntarily abdicate the throne. He chose to abdicate after the British government, public, and the Church of England condemned his decision to marry the American divorcée Wallis Warfield Simpson. On the evening of December 11, he gave a radio address in which he explained, “I have found it impossible to carry on the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge the duties of king, as I would wish to do, without the help and support of the woman I love.” On December 12, his younger brother, the duke of York, was proclaimed King George VI.
Edward, born in 1894, was the eldest son of King George V, who became the British sovereign in 1910. Still unmarried as he approached his 40th birthday, he socialized with the fashionable London society of the day. By 1934, he had fallen deeply in love with American socialite Wallis Warfield Simpson, who was married to Ernest Simpson, an English-American businessman who lived with Mrs. Simpson near London. Wallis, who was born in Pennsylvania, had previously married and divorced a U.S. Navy pilot. The royal family disapproved of Edward’s married mistress, but by 1936 the prince was intent on marrying Mrs. Simpson. Before he could discuss this intention with his father, George V died, in January 1936, and Edward was proclaimed king.
The new king proved popular with his subjects, and his coronation was scheduled for May 1937. His affair with Mrs. Simpson was reported in American and continental European newspapers, but due to a gentlemen’s agreement between the British press and the government, the affair was kept out of British newspapers. On October 27, 1936, Mrs. Simpson obtained a preliminary decree of divorce, presumably with the intent of marrying the king, which precipitated a major scandal. To the Church of England and most British politicians, an American woman twice divorced was unacceptable as a prospective British queen. Winston Churchill, then a Conservative backbencher, was the only notable politician to support Edward.
Despite the seemingly united front against him, Edward could not be dissuaded. He proposed a morganatic marriage, in which Wallis would be granted no rights of rank or property, but on December 2, Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin rejected the suggestion as impractical. The next day, the scandal broke on the front pages of British newspapers and was discussed openly in Parliament. With no resolution possible, the king renounced the throne on December 10. The next day, Parliament approved the abdication instrument, and Edward VIII’s reign came to an end. The new king, George VI, made his older brother the duke of Windsor. On June 3, 1937, the duke of Windsor and Wallis Warfield married at the Château de Cande in France’s Loire Valley.
For the next two years, the duke and duchess lived primarily in France but visited other European countries, including Germany, where the duke was honored by Nazi officials in October 1937 and met with Adolf Hitler. After the outbreak of World War II, the duke accepted a position as liaison officer with the French. In June 1940, France fell to the Nazis, and Edward and Wallis went to Spain. During this period, the Nazis concocted a scheme to kidnap Edward with the intention of returning him to the British throne as a puppet king. George VI, like his prime minister, Winston Churchill, was adamantly opposed to any peace with Nazi Germany. Unaware of the Nazi kidnapping plot but conscious of Edward’s pre-war Nazi sympathies, Churchill hastily offered Edward the governorship of the Bahamas in the West Indies. The duke and duchess set sail from Lisbon on August 1, 1940, narrowly escaping a Nazi SS team sent to seize them.

In 1945, the duke resigned his post, and the couple moved back to France. They lived mainly in Paris, and Edward made a few visits to England, such as to attend the funerals of King George VI in 1952 and his mother, Queen Mary, in 1953. It was not until 1967 that the duke and duchess were invited by the royal family to attend an official public ceremony, the unveiling of a plaque dedicated to Queen Mary. Edward died in Paris in 1972 but was buried at Frogmore, on the grounds of Windsor Castle. In 1986, Wallis died and was buried at his side.

Also, ON THIS DAY:

Adolf Hitler declares war on the United States, bringing America, which had been neutral, into the European conflict.
The bombing of Pearl Harbor surprised even Germany. Although Hitler had made an oral agreement with his Axis partner Japan that Germany would join a war against the United States, he was uncertain as to how the war would be engaged. Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor answered that question. On December 8, Japanese Ambassador Oshima went to German Foreign Minister von Ribbentrop to nail the Germans down on a formal declaration of war against America. Von Ribbentrop stalled for time; he knew that Germany was under no obligation to do this under the terms of the Tripartite Pact, which promised help if Japan was attacked, but not if Japan was the aggressor. Von Ribbentrop feared that the addition of another antagonist, the United States, would overwhelm the German war effort.
But Hitler thought otherwise. He was convinced that the United States would soon beat him to the punch and declare war on Germany. The U.S. Navy was already attacking German U-boats, and Hitler despised Roosevelt for his repeated verbal attacks against his Nazi ideology. He also believed that Japan was much stronger than it was, that once it had defeated the United States, it would turn and help Germany defeat Russia. So at 3:30 p.m. (Berlin time) on December 11, the German charge d’affaires in Washington handed American Secretary of State Cordell Hull a copy of the declaration of war.
That very same day, Hitler addressed the Reichstag to defend the declaration. The failure of the New Deal, argued Hitler, was the real cause of the war, as President Roosevelt, supported by plutocrats and Jews, attempted to cover up for the collapse of his economic agenda. “First he incites war, then falsifies the causes, then odiously wraps himself in a cloak of Christian hypocrisy and slowly but surely leads mankind to war,” declared Hitler—and the Reichstag leaped to their feet in thunderous applause.
______________________________________
WORD OF THE DAY

secular; adjective; (SEK-yuh-ler)

What It Means
Secular means "not spiritual or religious."

// In her autobiography, the actor mentions that her education in parochial school was not too different from that of secular institutions.

Examples

"The biggest change from Halloween's earliest roots is that it became more secular than religious." — The South Marion (Florida) Citizen, 29 Oct. 2021

Did You Know?

Secular comes from Latin saeculum, meaning variously "generation," "age," "century," and "world." Today, secular is used to describe things that are related to the physical rather than the spiritual world, and to things that are not overtly or specifically religious or that are controlled by the government rather than the church.

(from Merriam Webster and history dot com)

Beaver Island Community School Weekly Update

Friday, December 10, 2021

Islanders Bring Home the Hardware!

The Beaver Island Basketball Teams traveled to Put-in-Bay last weekend to participate in the 3rd Annual Great Lakes Islands Basketball Tournament. The girls team played hard and learned a lot about how to defend a star three-point Panther shooter, but came up short at the final buzzer. The boys team played awesome ball and ended up as the Champions of the Islands!  Thanks to the coaches, parents, and athletes for representing Beaver Island so well!

The “A-Thon” Fundraiser Event is Postponed

The BICS Student Council’s “a-thon” fundraiser to raise money for Northern Family Intervention Services has been postponed until January. However, all the baked goods that were brought in will be sold today at the front of the school to help raise needed funds for this worthy organization. If you want some sweet treats for the weekend, bring your checkbook or open your cash wallet when you pick up your student today.

COVID-19 Cases Associated with the School

We have several active cases of COVID-19 in the BICS student body. We are working closely with the HDNW regarding contact tracing and determining quarantine times. Students who are fully vaccinated do not have to quarantine and may continue in-person learning so long as they remain without symptoms. Assuming the current situation holds steady, BICS will continue to provide in-person learning until winter break. Students who are currently in isolation or quarantine should communicate directly with their teachers regarding homework assignments and virtual learning opportunities.

Parents—PLEASE Check your Child for Symptoms BEFORE School!

In order to keep our school open, we need every parent to help us out by checking your student for symptoms BEFORE you bring them to school. If your child is showing any cold, flu, or COVID-19 symptoms, please keep them at home and consider having them tested for COVID-19 either at the school or at the Health Center.

Beaver Island’s Elves!

‘Tis the season of giving…and an Island Elf has worked a deal with Da lwhinnie’s Deli for Beaver Island’s students!  During the month of December, any BICS student may receive one free breakfast or dinner compliments of our own Beaver Island Elf! Thank you!

Wreaths Across America

At 2:00 pm on Monday, December 13th, the 4th-6th grade class will be participating in the Wreaths Across America program. They will be placing a wreath on the grave of every veteran’s grave at both the St. James Township Cemetery and the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery. They are eager and excited to be a part of this, and we could not be more proud of their kind hearts for doing it. Thank you parents…good people raising good people!

Meet Secret Santa’s Helper

For those students who have signed up for the Student Council’s Secret Santa celebrations, Ms. Deb will be serving as a helper for getting gifts and goodies to students who are quarantined. She will set up a drop box by the front doors. If your Santee is quarantined, please put your gift in the drop box. If you are at home quarantined, please have someone drop off the gifts to your person in the drop box and pick up the gift with your name on it. Please clearly note to whom the gift is going when you drop off your gift.

Santa’s Workshop—December 16th!

The Beaver Island Friends of Veterans and AMVETS are coordinating the 19th annual Santa’s Workshop at BICS on December 16th. Elementary parents—your child was sent home with gift tags for them to fill out in advance. Helpers will be on hand to help kids shop and to wrap presents. ALL items are priced at $1.00…so send enough money with your student to cover the gifts. After the elementary students are done, the secondary students will have an opportunity to shop too!  Thank you Friends of Vets and AMVETS for continuing this tradition!

Elks Power!

The Beaver Island Elks Lodge was awarded a grant to provide Power Book Bags for Island children.  This program supplies students with new books three times over the school year. The books will be given out to the students just prior to Christmas, Spring, and Summer breaks. At each distribution, the students will be allowed to choose two books and will also receive a goody bag stuffed with enriching activities.  The first distribution will be on December 21st here at school! Thank you Elks!

Masking Option for Winter Athletes—Testing Every Tuesday Morning

The HDNW has modified their mask order to allow student athletes who participate in weekly COVID-19 testing to not wear a mask while actively playing or practicing (they still need to wear their masks at all other times). We will be testing at 8:00 every Tuesday morning. Students can sign up for this program anytime—even if they missed the first two weeks of testing.

Holiday Events at the Community Center Canceled

Out of an abundance of caution and to ensure the safety of the Island community, the Beaver Island Community Center is canceling the indoor events planned for December. They will be bringing the Gingerbread House Kits to the school for distribution to our families who are interested…we will let you know when they are available.

Stay Safe and Healthy!

Deb Pomorski
BICS Secretary
debbiep@beaverisland.k12.mi.us
231-448-2744

BI Christian Church Flyer

for December 12, 2021

Marylee Pischner

1938 ~ 2021

Marylee Baker Pischner, age 83, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 7, 2021. She will be greatly missed by many who loved her. Marylee was preceded in death by her parents, Sims and Helen (Richardson) Baker, and her loving husband of 55 years, Barry.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Tammy (Bill) McDonough, Marnie (Dan) Byers, and Melissa (Bob) Stull; grandchildren, Joe (Alli) McDonough, Barry McDonough, Bailey McDonough, Katie (Sam) Trumpie, Jake Byers (Adrienne Tieman), Nick Byers, Ryleigh Stull, Tara Stull; great- grandchildren, Carter Trumpie, Ellorie Trumpie, Jack McDonough, and Declan McDonough; many extended family members and dear friends.


Marylee was born in Charlevoix, Michigan on March 23, 1938. She graduated from Charlevoix High School in 1956 and from Central Michigan University in 1960, with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work. She married the love of her life, Barry, in 1960 and they settled in Grand Rapids, Michigan. There, they created a beautiful life together and welcomed three daughters who would define them as the perfect parents. Asked to describe her in one word, her grandchildren responded with nurturing, gentle, hospitable, generous, nice, compassionate, classy, lively, dainty, humble, and resolute.


Dedication to her family and friends was a highlight in Marylee’s life. She loved to read and travel. Her gift for entertaining a group with good food and warm surroundings was appreciated by so many throughout her life. Her love for music was shared with her husband and family. Marylee was devoted to her faith, quietly giving her time and support to church organizations and charities. The special connections and appreciation she and Barry had with and for the Charlevoix and Beaver Island communities has been passed on to her daughters and their families.


A celebration of Marylee’s life will take place at a later date. Memorial contributions can be made to Dégagé Ministries, 144 Division Avenue, S., Grand Rapids, MI 49503 or Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, 100 Michigan St., NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.

Student Fundraiser Postponed

December 10, 2021

PLEASE stop by the school to peruse the utterly delectable sweet treats available for purchase this afternoon.

The BICS Student Council must postpone the sport-a-thon portion of its fundraiser today. Sadly. It's going to happen ASAP, but will likely be in early January.
BUT! We have 85 zillion BAKED GOODS. Please stop by the school this afternoon from 3:30 to 5:30.
Proceeds to benefit Northern Family Intervention Services and Student Council -- 50/50. The sport-a-thon proceeds will be 100% for NFIS.

From Island Treasures Resale Shop

December 10, 2021

Island Treasures Resale Shop has had a record breaking year. Mountains of donations arrived, and our shoppers were delighted. The booming real estate market certainly contributed to the high volume of merchandise.
It was our pleasure to purchase new turnout gear for the Beaver Island Fire Department this fall. This is the attire that protects a firefighter from the flames. Each person was custom fitted for the top of the line equipment. We were able to pay $39,000 for this safety gear because of the generous support of our community.
The busy season has not quite wound down yet. Our faithful crew of summer and year round volunteers works long hours unloading, sorting, pricing, stocking, and selling the Treasures. We plan to be open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from noon until 4:00 except for the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.
Thank you, Beaver Island !

Weather by Joe

December 10, 2021

Good morning from Beaver Island!

Here on Carlisle Road at 7:30 a.m., it is 34 degrees with a 2 mph wind from the N. Humidity is 91%. The pressure is 29.56. It is cloudy with visibility at ten miles.

TODAY, it is expected to be cloudy with temperatures in the middle 30's. Wind will be from the NE at 5 to 10 mph.

TONIGHT, it is forecast for snow giving way to a mix of snow and rain late. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Snow accumulation might be from 1 to 3 inches. The low will be close to freezing. The wind will be from the ENE at 10 to 20 mph.

TOMORROW, it is forecast for cloudy skies with a mix of rain and snow in the morning turning to snow in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. The wind will be from the NNW at 20 to 30 mph with stronger gusts likely.
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ON THIS DAY

The first Nobel Prizes are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden, in the fields of physics, chemistry, medicine, literature and peace on December 10, 1901. The ceremony came on the fifth anniversary of the death of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor of dynamite and other high explosives. In his will, Nobel directed that the bulk of his vast fortune be placed in a fund in which the interest would be “annually distributed in the form of prizes to those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit on mankind.” Although Nobel offered no public reason for his creation of the prizes, it is widely believed that he did so out of moral regret over the increasingly lethal uses of his inventions in war.
Alfred Bernhard Nobel was born in Stockholm in 1833, and four years later his family moved to Russia. His father ran a successful St. Petersburg factory that built explosive mines and other military equipment. Educated in Russia, Paris, and the United States, Alfred Nobel proved a brilliant chemist. When his father’s business faltered after the end of the Crimean War, Nobel returned to Sweden and set up a laboratory to experiment with explosives. In 1863, he invented a way to control the detonation of nitroglycerin, a highly volatile liquid that had been recently discovered but was previously regarded as too dangerous for use. Two years later, Nobel invented the blasting cap, an improved detonator that inaugurated the modern use of high explosives. Previously, the most dependable explosive was black powder, a form of gunpowder.
Nitroglycerin remained dangerous, however, and in 1864 Nobel’s nitroglycerin factory blew up, killing his younger brother and several other people. Searching for a safer explosive, Nobel discovered in 1867 that the combination of nitroglycerin and a porous substance called kieselguhr produced a highly explosive mixture that was much safer to handle and use. Nobel christened his invention “dynamite,” for the Greek word dynamis, meaning “power.” Securing patents on dynamite, Nobel acquired a fortune as humanity put his invention to use in construction and warfare.
In 1875, Nobel created a more powerful form of dynamite, blasting gelatin, and in 1887 introduced ballistite, a smokeless nitroglycerin powder. Around that time, one of Nobel’s brothers died in France, and French newspapers printed obituaries in which they mistook him for Alfred. One headline read, “The merchant of death is dead.” Alfred Nobel in fact had pacifist tendencies and in his later years apparently developed strong misgivings about the impact of his inventions on the world. After he died in San Remo, Italy, on December 10, 1896, the majority of his estate went toward the creation of prizes to be given annually in the fields of physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace. The portion of his will establishing the Nobel Peace Prize read, “[one award shall be given] to the person who has done the most or best work for fraternity among nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies, and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.” Exactly five years after his death, the first Nobel awards were presented.
Today, the Nobel Prizes are regarded as the most prestigious awards in the world in their various fields. Notable winners have included Marie Curie, Theodore Roosevelt, Albert Einstein, George Bernard Shaw, Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemingway, Martin Luther King, Jr., the Dalai Lama, Mikhail Gorbachev, Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama and Malala Yousafzai. Multiple leaders and organizations sometimes receive the Nobel Peace Prize, and multiple researchers often share the scientific awards for their joint discoveries. In 1968, a Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Science was established by the Swedish national bank, Sveriges Riksbank, and first awarded in 1969.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences decides the prizes in physics, chemistry, and economic science; the Swedish Royal Caroline Medico-Surgical Institute determines the physiology or medicine award; the Swedish Academy chooses literature; and a committee elected by the Norwegian parliament awards the peace prize. The Nobel Prizes are still presented annually. Each Nobel carries a cash prize of nearly $1,400,000 and recipients also received a gold medal, as is the tradition.

Also, ON THIS DAY:

On December 10, 1690, a failed attack on Quebec and subsequent near-mutiny force the Massachusetts Bay Colony to issue the first paper currency in the history of the Western Hemisphere.
France and Britain periodically attacked each other's North American colonies throughout the 17th and 18th Centuries. In 1690, during one such war, Governor William Phips of Britain's Massachusetts Bay Colony made a promise he could not keep. After leading a successful invasion of the French colony of Acadia, Phips decided to raid Quebec City, promising his volunteer troops half the loot in addition to their usual pay. Soldiers were typically paid in coins, but shortages of official currency in the colonies sometimes forced armies to temporarily issue IOUs—in one case, in the form of cut-up playing cards—which troops were allowed to exchange for goods and services until receiving their actual pay. Despite Phips’ grand promise, he failed to take the city, returning to Massachusetts with a damaged fleet and no treasure.
With a shortage of coins and nothing else to pay the troops with, Phips faced a potential mutiny. With no other option, on December 10th, 1690, the General Court of Massachusetts ordered the printing of a limited amount of government-backed, paper currency to pay the soldiers. A few months later, with tax season approaching, a law was passed removing the limit on how much currency could be printed, calling for the immediate printing of more, and permitting the use of paper currency for the payment of taxes.
The currency was initially unpopular for anything except paying taxes, and was phased out. Within a few years, however, paper currency would return to Massachusetts. The Bank of England began issuing banknotes in 1695, also to pay for war against the French, and they became increasingly common throughout the 18th Century. Paper money continued to stoke controversy throughout the early history of the United States, and it was tied to the value of gold for a surprisingly long time. It was not until 1973 that President Richard Nixon officially ended the international convertibility of the U.S. dollar into gold.
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WORD OF THE DAY

palisade; noun; (pal-uh-SAYD)

What It Means

Palisade refers to a fence of stakes used for defense or to a line of steep cliffs.
// The iron palisade surrounding the decrepit mansion stood strong.

// Kayakers encounter many unique natural structures along the river, including its steep palisades.

Examples

"The fort was built high, with a palisade, or staked fence, which was perhaps as high as 14 feet." — Scott Desmit, The Daily News (New York), 26 Oct. 2021
.

Did You Know?

Palisade comes from Latin palus, meaning "stake." The word originally applied to one of a series of stakes set in a row to form an enclosure or fortification. In time, its meaning was extended to a fence of stakes and, by association, to stretches of steep cliffs bordering a river.
(from Merriam Webster and history dot com)

Northern Lake Michigan Islands Collaborative Meeting

October 14-15, 2021

Meeting Notes

BITA BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ REGULAR MEETING


TUESDAY December 14, 2021, at Noon

Nov 9 2021 regular meeting minutes draft

Dec14 2021 regular meeting agenda

Health Department of Northwest Michigan COVID-19 Update 

December 9, 2021

Best holiday present: Flu and COVID vaccines to protect loved ones  

The Health Department of Northwest Michigan is observing National Influenza Vaccination Week by urging residents to receive vaccines against highly contagious illnesses as soon as possible. Anyone can get the flu or COVID-19, including healthy children and adults. Getting the flu vaccine and an initial or booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your family.  

Flu Vaccine 

Every person six months and older should get an annual flu vaccine, especially certain groups considered at the highest risk, like young children, pregnant women, adults who have chronic health conditions, or adults over the age of 50. People with asthma, heart disease, diabetes, and many other chronic health conditions are at higher risk of developing serious flu complications that can result in hospitalization or even death. In addition, the flu vaccine reduces an individual’s risk of being hospitalized due to influenza, freeing up hospital space, equipment, and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

COVID-19 Booster 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recommended that all persons age 18 and older receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose to help protect individuals personally and help curb overall transmission in communities. If your original vaccine was an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna), you should wait six months after the initial series to get a booster. However, the wait is only two months if you received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. The booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine provides an additional layer of protection against COVID-19 and its variants currently circulating across the world, the United States and in Michigan.  

“During this holiday season as you are gathering with family and friends, now is the time to make sure you have the best level of protection for yourself and others and get your flu vaccine and COVID-19 initial dose or booster,” said Dr. Josh Meyerson, Medical Director with the health department. It takes two weeks after a second dose of Pfizer or Moderna or after the first and only dose of J&J to be considered fully vaccinated – just in time for the holidays.  

Symptoms of influenza, which are similar to COVID-19 symptoms, include fever or feeling feverish/chilled, body aches, cough, sore throat, or fatigue. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent both viruses. If you receive a vaccination and still get the flu or COVID-19, the vaccine may make symptoms milder and the length of illness shorter. The vaccine will also prevent you from spreading the virus to others, including those at risk of more serious illness. Other preventive actions recommended to reduce the risk of COVID-19 also help reduce the risk of flu transmission include: 

·        Wear a face mask while indoors in public. 

·        Get tested for COVID-19 when you have symptoms, 3-5 days after you are exposed to someone with COVID-19 and just prior to a gathering 

·        Socially distance while in gatherings. 

·        Stay home when you are sick. 

·        Avoid close contact with people who are sick. 

·        Clean your hands often, with soap and water or hand sanitizer. 

·        Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. 

·        Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. 

To date, 31.7% of eligible residents in the four-county jurisdiction of the health department have received their flu vaccine and 65.3% of eligible residents (5 years and older) have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Additional flu vaccination data can be found by visiting the Michigan Flu Vaccination Dashboard. 

Flu and COVID-19 vaccinations – including booster shots – are widely available at pharmacies, health care providers and health department clinics. For a list of vaccine providers and locations in Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet and Otsego counties, click here. To schedule a flu vaccine, call the Health Department of Northwest Michigan at 1-800-432-4121. 

To schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment with the Health Department of Northwest Michigan exclusively for children 5 to 11 years old, click here. To schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment with the health department for anyone 12 and older, click here. A parent/guardian must accompany anyone younger than 18 to a COVID-19 clinic. Please bring an insurance card to the appointment. Anyone with questions or unable to find a time or date that works for them and/or their child may call the health department at 800-432-4121. 

To find a test site in the area, visit http://www.nwhealth.org/covid19main.html. 

Stay up to date on the latest information in the Health Department of Northwest Michigan jurisdiction by liking and following our Facebook page and visiting our COVID-19 Data Dashboard. To locate a testing facility, visit the Michigan COVID-19 Test Finder website. To track the risk levels of COVID-19 pandemic indicators, visit the MI Safe Start Map website. For more information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, visit the MDHHS vaccine website or the CDC vaccine website. 

LAUREL JOHNSON, M.Ed, CHES

Community Health Coordinator, Public Information Officer

3434 M-119, Suite A, Harbor Springs, MI 49740

Office: 231-347-5628 

www.nwhealth.org

COVID-19 Case Counts


The Health Department of Northwest Michigan is reporting the following case information:


• On Tuesday, Dec. 7, 83 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Antrim (16), Charlevoix (18), Emmet (35), and Otsego (14), and three new COVID-19 associated deaths in Antrim (1) and Otsego (2).


• On Wednesday, Dec. 8, 76 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Antrim (15), Charlevoix (17), Emmet (20), and Otsego (24), and one new COVID-19 associated death in Antrim.


• On Thursday, Dec. 9, 76 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Antrim (13), Charlevoix (19), Emmet (30), and Otsego (14), and one new COVID-19 associated death in Otsego.


As of 4 p.m. December 9, the cumulative case count information for the Health Department of Northwest Michigan is:


• Total COVID-19 cases in the following counties: Antrim (2,988), Charlevoix (3,199), Emmet (4,228), and Otsego (4,109).
• Recovered COVID-19 cases in the following counties: Antrim (2,521), Charlevoix (2,623), Emmet (3,508), and Otsego (3,363).
• Confirmed COVID-19 associated deaths in the following counties: Antrim (45), Charlevoix (45), Emmet (55), and Otsego (73).


On December 8, the State of Michigan reported 1,368,541 cases and 24,845 deaths.


Stay up to date on the latest information in the Health Department of Northwest Michigan jurisdiction by liking and following our Facebook page and visiting our COVID-19 Data Dashboard. To locate a testing facility, visit the Michigan COVID-19 Test Finder website. To track the risk levels of COVID-19 pandemic indicators, visit the MI Safe Start Map website. For more information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, visit the MDHHS vaccine website or the CDC vaccine website.

As of 4 p.m., 12/8/2021

From Munson Healthcare:  146 people hospitalized for COVID; 82% are unvaccinated; 61 are in the ICU; 89% unvaccinated; on ventilator; 9; 100% unvaccinated.

Beaver Island Waste Management Committee

Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at 1:30PM

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES for October 19, 2021 (attached)

III. REPORTS
A. Budget Report & Single Stream Up-date (Tilly)
     B. Transfer Station & Recycle Center Manager Report (Marsh)

IV. ANNOUNCEMENTS (Chair)

V. OLD BUSINESS
     Committee Top Three Priorities (goals and objectives) for FY 2021/22 (Cole)

VI  NEW BUSINESS
      New & Temporary Policy Concerning Recyclable Cans and Bottles. 

VI. PUBLIC COMMENT

VII. ADJOURNMENT

View October minutes HERE

Beaver Island Telecommunications Advisory Committee Re-Scheduled

The Thursday, December 9, 2021, at 4:30 pm is canceled!

The meeting is rescheduled for next Thursday, December 16, 2021, at 4:30 pm at the Beaver Island Community Center

BIRHC OPERATIONS UPDATE

December 8, 2021

The BI Rural Health Center is resuming normal operations and happy to report no additional active infections among our staff. Due to the current COVID positivity rate throughout Michigan, we encourage everyone to continue to take all precautions possible, including getting vaccinated if you haven’t yet, and ‘boosted’ when it’s time!

For appointments and more info, call 231-448-2275.

Ann T. Partridge, Acting Managing Director

Beaver Island Rural Health Center

231-448-2275

231-448-2348 fax

ann@biruralhealth.org

St. James Township Board Meeting

December 8, 2021, @ 5:30 p.m.

This meeting was rescheduled from December 1, 2021, due to the COVID concerns on Beaver Island.  The meeting took place at the St. James Township Hall.  All members of the board were present along with the deputy supervisor and the deputy clerk. The meeting was live streamed on Beaver Island TV.

Agenda for 12082021

Draft minutes November 22, 2021 Special Meeting

Draft Minutes, November 3, 2021 regular meeting

Expenditures 12.21

Planning and Administrative Assistant Task List (2)

Supervisor Lens 2021-12 1

View video of the meeting HERE

For those that either can't or don't have the time to watch the video of the meeting, a summary of the meeting is presented below:

The call to order, the pledge of allegiance, and the welcoming of new board member Vicky Fingeroot were done at the very beginning of the meeting.  Vicky Fingeroot took the oath of office prior to the start of the meeting.  The minutes of the regular board meeting of November 3, 2021, and the approval of the special meeting of November 22, 2021, were approved.  The bills for payment with two additional bills were approved.  The cleaning person was approved for the Governmental Center and the township hall was appointed.  Mary Palmer was the appointee.  Julie Gillespie was appointed to the BITAC and the BIAC to take the position vacated Kitty McNamara.  Vicky Fingeroot was appointed to replace Joe Moore on the Waste Management Committee. Diane McDonough's position on the rural health center was discussed, and research determined that her position on the BIRHC Board was not to expire until the end of 2022.  Bob Tidmore and Nathan Altman were re-appointed to the Planning Commission. 

The Administrative Assistant position was divided into two separate positions shown in the task list above, and Cynthia Pryor and Shelby Harris will split the tasks shown in this list.  The zoning board of appeals positions will be posted after the requirements of the positions are determined.  The use of the Marina North Building will be researched by Paul Cole, and Joe Moore was given the authority to make the decision on the rates and to offer this to the two agencies wishing to use the building for storage.  The monies for the pocket gardens and the payment was determined and will be made from the funds raised for this purpose.  The January meeting and additonal meetings will take place on the second Wednesday of the month instead of the first Wednesday of the month beginning in January 2022, and the June 2022 meeting will be on the third Wednesday of the month.  A joint meeting of both townships will take place to discuss the purchase of a piece of property for expansion of the townships' cemetery.

This meeting lasted a little over an hour and a half.

BIRHC Board Meeting Canceled

December 9, 2021

The scheduled meeting of the Beaver Island Rural Health Center Board of Directors is canceled due to a lack of a quorum.  


The next meeting of the Health Center Board will take place on Thursday, January 13, 2022 @ 4:00pm at the Peaine Township Hall.

Weather by Joe

December 9, 2021

Good morning from Beaver Island!

This morning on Carlisle Road it is 25 degrees with humidity at 83%. There is a slight wind from the E at 2 mph. The pressure is 29.97. It is cloudy and visibility is 10 miles.

TODAY, it is expected to be cloudy with snow flurries becoming steady with accumulation later in the day. Chance of snow is 90%. Snow accumulation could be from 1 to 3 inches. The high will be near freezing. The wind will be from the SE at 10 to 20 mph.

TONIGHT, it is forecast for cloudy skies with snow showers. Chance of snow is 60%. The low will be just below freezing. The wind will switch from the S to W at 10 to 15 mph.

TOMORROW, it is forecast for overcast skies with a high in the middle 30's. Winds will be from the NE at 5 to 10 mph.
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ON THIS DAY

On December 9, The Examiner prints Alfred Lord Tennyson’s poem “The Charge of the Light Brigade,” which commemorates the courage of 600 British soldiers charging a heavily defended position during the Battle of Balaklava, in the Crimea, just six weeks earlier. Tennyson had been named poet laureate in 1850 by Queen Victoria.
Tennyson was born into a chaotic and disrupted home. His father, the eldest son of a wealthy landowner, was disinherited in favor of his younger brother. Forced to enter the church to support himself, the Reverend Dr. George Tennyson became a bitter alcoholic. However, he educated his sons in the classics, and Alfred Tennyson, the fourth of 12 children, went to Trinity College at Cambridge in 1827. The same year, he and his brother Charles published Poems by Two Brothers. At Cambridge, Tennyson befriended a circle of intellectual undergraduates who strongly encouraged his poetry. Chief among them was Arthur Hallam, who became Tennyson’s closest friend and who later proposed to Tennyson’s sister.
In 1830, Tennyson published Poems, Chiefly Lyrical. The following year, his father died, and he was forced to leave Cambridge for financial reasons. Besieged by critical attacks and struggling with poverty, Tennyson nevertheless remained dedicated to his work and published several more volumes.
The sudden death of Tennyson’s dear friend Arthur Hallam in 1833 inspired several important works throughout Tennyson’s later life, including the masterful In Memoriam of 1842. Later that year, he published a volume called Poems, containing some of his best works. The book boosted Tennyson’s reputation, and in 1850 Queen Victoria named him poet laureate. At long last, Tennyson achieved financial stability and finally married his fiancée, Emily Sellwood, whom he had loved since 1836.

Tennyson’s massive frame and booming voice, together with his taste for solitude, made him an imposing character. He craved solitude and bought an isolated home where he could write in peace. In 1859, he published the first four books of his epic Idylls of the King. Eight more volumes would follow. He continued writing and publishing poems until his death in 1892.

Also, ON THIS DAY: Inspired by the leadership of Benjamin Rush Milam, the newly created Texan Army takes possession of the city of San Antonio, an important victory for the Republic of Texas in its war for independence from Mexico.
Milam was born in 1788 in Frankfort, Kentucky. He became a citizen and soldier of Mexico in 1824, when newly independent Mexico was still under a republican constitution. Like many Americans who immigrated to the Mexican state of Texas, Milam found that the government both welcomed and feared the growing numbers of Americans, and treated them with uneven fairness. When Milam heard in 1835 that Santa Ana had overthrown the Mexican republic and established himself as dictator, Milam renounced his Mexican citizenship and joined the rag-tag army of the newly proclaimed independent Republic of Texas.
After helping the Texas Army capture the city of Goliad, Milam went on a reconnaissance mission to the southwest but returned to join the army for its planned attack on San Antonio—only to learn that the generals were postponing the attack on San Antonio for the winter. Aware that Santa Ana’s forces were racing toward Texas to suppress the rebellion, Milam worried that any hesitation would spell the end of the revolution. Milam made an impassioned call for volunteers, asking: “Who will go with old Ben Milam into San Antonio?”
Inspired by Milam’s bold challenge, three hundred men did volunteer, and the Texas Army began its attack on San Antonio at dawn on December 5. By December 9, the defending forces of the Mexican army were badly beaten, and the commanding general surrendered the city. Milam, however, was not there to witness the results of his leadership—he was killed instantly by a sniper bullet on December 7. If Milam had survived, he might well have been among the doomed defenders of the Alamo that were wiped out by Santa Ana’s troops the following March.
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WORD OF THE DAY

rankle; verb; (RANK-ul)

What It Means

Rankle means "to cause anger, irritation, or bitterness."

// Rae Ann's snooty attitude and rude behavior rankled the host, but he smiled to hide his irritation.

Examples

"Just one caveat: big swaths of this book are fiction, which may rankle readers who are eager to sink their teeth into a good nonfiction book." — Terri Schlichenmeyer, The Wyoming Tribune-Eagle, 24 Sept. 2021

Did You Know?

When rankle was first used in English, it meant "to fester," and that meaning is related to French words referring to a sore and tracing to Latin dracunculus. The Latin is from draco, the word for a serpent and the source of English's dragon. The transition from serpents to sores is apparently from people associating the appearance of certain ulcers or tumors to small serpents.

(from Merriam Webster and history dot com)

Snowy Owl Hanging Near BIBCO Parking

Deember 7, 2021

There appears no worry for the owl as someone walks up 20-30 feet away to take a picture even from a very quiet electric car.

Editorial Regarding Phone Answering Systems

December 8, 2021

This editor finds that these systems of "press 1 for this, press 2 for this," are the most frustrating and time consuming phone calls that can be made.  Here is the problem in a nutshell. 

I was on the telephone for 8 minutes in one of the answering systems, and throughout the entire time, never got to talk to a person.  The next step was to begin by choosing one of the options even if it did not match the problem that I was calling about.  I was then transferred to yet another place, and this one was not the correct one, and then I was transferred to yet another person, and waited on hold once again.  When they finally answered after almost ten minutes, I was told that I needed to speak to a supervisor, and I was transferred once again.  The supervisor did  not answer, and I was told to leave a short message and a return phone number, and the supervisor would return the call.

This call was made on Monday morning around 9 a.m., and it is now Wednesday morning, 48 hours later, and there has not been a return call to either my home phone or my cell number, even though both were given in the phone message.

The total time for this customer on the phone during the first phone call on Monday was just under 40 minutes, and the problem is still not resolved.

This consumer understands that the system is meant to make the call more efficient for the company.  Unfortunately, this is not more efficient for the consumer.  If the business did not have a monopoly on Beaver Island, I would switch to a different company.  There really isn't any excuse for this poor service as well as the lack of ANY customer service on this issue.

A second call had the same result as the first, but I hung up after getting the leave the message for the supervisor.  The most frustrating thing is that all I asked was for the telephone repairman give me a call to help me resolve, if possible, the issue without requiring a visit to my home.  And the "customer service" person said they would not do that, and the issue did not rise to the need of sending the repairman to my home.

I said, "Just have him call me or have him come to my house to resolve this problem," and they refused to do that.

Thank you so much, TDS Telecom, for your refusal to return the supervisor call and provide ANY customer service whatsoever for two days.  I don't really have the patience to go through the phone answering, delayed talking to a person, and the transfers a second time, but don't expect this customer to be as polite the third time the call is made after two days of no service whatsoever, and over an hour of wasted time for me, the customer.

This editorial has no intention of giving the telephone repairman anything except praise for his hard work.  This lack of service is all the fault of the company, and not this individual person.

There have been many calls made with the same situation over the last few weeks, but the service at all of them were less than superior, and mostly rated as less than acceptable.

I think the best business with the best answering system is Central Drugs in Charlevoix.  The options are not only the most common needs of anyone calling, but also allow two options of talking to a person.  Congratulations to Central Drugs for an efficient and effective system!

Weather by Joe

December 8, 2021

Good morning from Beaver Island!

At 6:45 a.m., it is 14 degrees with no wind. The humidity is 99%. There is no wind. The pressure is 29.88. The sky is cloudy with visibility at 9 miles.

TODAY, it is expected to be a mix of clouds and sun with a chance of a few flurries. The high will be in the middle 20's. The wind will be from the NW at 5 to 10 mph.

TONIGHT, it is forecast for partly cloudy skies becoming overcast. The low will be in the low 20's. The wind will be from the SSE at 5 to 10 mph.

TOMORROW, it is forecast for snow likely with a high of freezing temperatures. The chance of snow is 80%. The wind will be from the SE at 10 to 20 mph.
____________________________________

ON THIS DAY

On December 8, as America’s Pacific fleet lay in ruins at Pearl Harbor, President Franklin Roosevelt requests, and receives, a declaration of war against Japan.
Leaning heavily on the arm of his son James, a Marine captain, FDR walked haltingly into the House of Representatives at noon to request a declaration of war from the House and address the nation via radio. “Yesterday,” the president proclaimed, “December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.”
Roosevelt’s 10-minute speech, ending with an oath-“So help us God”—was greeted in the House by thunderous applause and stamping of feet. Within one hour, the president had his declaration of war, with only one dissenting vote, from a pacifist in the House. FDR signed the declaration at 4:10 p.m., wearing a black armband to symbolize mourning for those lost at Pearl Harbor.

On both coasts, civilian defense groups were mobilized. In New York, Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia ordered the rounding up of Japanese nationals, who were transported to Ellis Island and held in custody indefinitely. In California, antiaircraft batteries were set up on Long Beach and the Hollywood Hills. Reports on supposed spy activity on the part of Japanese Americans began pouring into Washington, even as Japanese Americans paid for space in newspapers to declare unreservedly their loyalty to the United States. The groundwork was being laid for the tragic internment of Japanese Americans, thought a necessary caution at the time but regretted years later as a hysterical and bigoted response.

Also, ON THIS DAY: On December 8, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln offers his conciliatory plan for reunification of the United States with his Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction.
By this point in the Civil War, it was clear that Lincoln needed to make some preliminary plans for postwar reconstruction. The Union armies had captured large sections of the South, and some states were ready to have their governments rebuilt. The proclamation addressed three main areas of concern. First, it allowed for a full pardon for and restoration of property to all engaged in the rebellion with the exception of the highest Confederate officials and military leaders. Second, it allowed for a new state government to be formed when 10 percent of the eligible voters had taken an oath of allegiance to the United States. Third, the Southern states admitted in this fashion were encouraged to enact plans to deal with the formerly enslaved people so long as their freedom was not compromised.
In short, the terms of the plan were easy for most Southerners to accept. Though the emancipation of enslaved people was an impossible pill for some Confederates to swallow, Lincoln’s plan was charitable, considering the costliness of the war. With the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction, Lincoln was seizing the initiative for reconstruction from Congress. Some Radical Republicans thought the plan was far too easy on the South, but others accepted it because of the president’s prestige and leadership. Following Lincoln’s assassination in April 1865, the disagreements over the postwar reconstruction policy led to a heated battle between the next president, Andrew Johnson, and Congress.
______________________

WORD OF THE DAY

milquetoast; noun; (MILK-tohst)

What It Means

A milquetoast is a timid, meek, or unassertive person.

// The sales manager is not a milquetoast: when she sees an opportunity to make a lucrative deal, she will seal it.

Examples

"I think if you're likable, sometimes you are like milquetoast. You don't necessarily stand for anything. You don't rub people the wrong way because you have strong opinions…." — Katie Couric, quoted on NPR, 26 Oct. 2021

Did You Know?

Caspar Milquetoast is a comic strip character created in 1924 by cartoonist Harold T. Webster. Beginning a few years after the character's debut, the term milquetoast came to describe a timid or meek person. Caspar's last name is fitting because milk toast is a weak, bland concoction of buttered toast served in a dish of warm milk.

(from Merriam Webster and history dot com)

Welcome, Snow

by Cindy Ricksgers

Health Department of Northwest Michigan COVID-19 Update 

December 6, 2021 

Health Department: Reminders for safe and healthy workplace  

The health department is reminding residents, local business owners and employees, and visitors to take responsibility and slow the spread of COVID-19 after notification of Omicron variant detected in the U.S. and the holidays approaching. 

Residents, businesses owners and their employees can take the following steps to ensure a healthy community and workforce throughout the holiday season: 

·        Stay home and get tested if you are sick. If you have any symptoms of COVID-19, or have flu-like symptoms, it is important to stay home to prevent spreading any illness to those around you.  

o   Testing locations throughout the four-county jurisdiction of Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet and Otsego can be found here COVID-19 Testing List. 

o   Community testing events in partnership with Honu Management Group are available on Mondays in Gaylord, Thursdays in Central Lake (starting Dec. 16), and Saturdays in Charlevoix. More details can be found by visiting: www.nwhealth.org/covid19main.html 

·        Notify close contacts of exposure if positive for COVID-19. The health department is being notified of a large volume of positive tests each day and we may not be able to speak with each person in a timely way.  If you test positive, please fill out the electronic survey we send by text or email, isolate yourself at home for 10 days and notify your close contacts.  Slowing the spread of the virus can be achieved if close contacts are informed of their exposure, understand the need to quarantine for 10 days, monitor for symptoms and get tested. See If you test positive for COVID-19 for additional steps to help stop the spread because with the increase in COVID-19 cases in our area, you may not hear from the health department right away. 

·        Take preventative measures. Physically distance from others when possible, avoid crowds or seek testing after gatherings or travel, wash hands frequently with soap and water and clean hands with alcohol-based hand rub, and wear a mask that covers your mouth and nose while indoors around others not from your household. 

Dr. Meyerson stressed that the Delta variant is still the most dominant strain of COVID-19 spreading, although the Omicron variant has been detected in numerous states so far. Both variants are cause for concern, Dr. Meyerson said, and the best way to protect yourself, your family and your loved ones is to get vaccinated – and that includes getting your booster shot, too. 

“Getting your booster shot is just as important as getting your first or second COVID vaccination,” said Dr. Josh Meyerson, Medical Director for the Health Department of Northwest Michigan. “Anyone 18 and older who received their last shot six months after completing their primary vaccination series (for Pfizer or Moderna) or two months after receiving their J&J vaccination, is eligible for a booster vaccination,” he said. 

Vaccinations – including booster shots – are widely available at pharmacies, health care providers and health department clinics. For a list of vaccine providers and locations in Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet and Otsego counties, click here. To schedule an appointment with the Health Department of Northwest Michigan exclusively for children 5 to 11 years old, click here. To schedule an appointment with the health department for anyone 12 and older, click here. A parent/guardian must accompany anyone younger than 18 to a COVID-19 clinic. Please bring an insurance card to the appointment. Anyone with questions or unable to find a time or date that works for them and/or their child may call the health department at 800-432-4121. 

To find a test site in the area, visit http://www.nwhealth.org/covid19main.html. 

Stay up to date on the latest information in the Health Department of Northwest Michigan jurisdiction by liking and following our Facebook page and visiting our COVID-19 Data Dashboard. To locate a testing facility, visit the Michigan COVID-19 Test Finder website. To track the risk levels of COVID-19 pandemic indicators, visit the MI Safe Start Map website. For more information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, visit the MDHHS vaccine website or the CDC vaccine website.

CALLOUTS: 

IF YOU RECEIVED Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna 

Who should get a booster: 
Everyone 18 years or older 

When to get a booster: 
At least 6 months after completing your primary COVID-19 vaccination series. 

Which booster should you get? 
Any of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States. 

Weather by Joe

December 7, 2021

Good morning from Beaver Island!

At 6:15 a.m.. it is 14 degrees here on Carlisle Road with a wind at 3 mph out of the SSE, making the wind chill at 11 degrees. The humidity is at 98% The pressure is 30.11. It is partly cloudy with visibility at ten miles.

TODAY, it is expected to be a chilly day with the high in the lower 20's. A few flurries are possible. The wind will be out of the W at 10 to 15 mph.

TONIGHT, it is forecast for variably cloudy skies with possible snow showers. The wind will be out of the W at 5 to 10 mph The low will be just below 20 degrees. Chance of snow is 70% with accumulation of 1 to 3 inches.

TOMORROW, it is forecast for cloudy skies becoming partly cloudy. A few snow flurries are possible. The high will be in the middle 20's. The wind will be from the NW at 5 to 10 mph.
_______________________________

ON THIS DAY

At 7:55 a.m. Hawaii time, a Japanese dive bomber bearing the red symbol of the Rising Sun of Japan on its wings appears out of the clouds above the island of Oahu. A swarm of 360 Japanese warplanes followed, descending on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in a ferocious assault. The surprise attack struck a critical blow against the U.S. Pacific fleet and drew the United States irrevocably into World War II.
With diplomatic negotiations with Japan breaking down, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his advisers knew that an imminent Japanese attack was probable, but nothing had been done to increase security at the important naval base at Pearl Harbor. It was Sunday morning, and many military personnel had been given passes to attend religious services off base. At 7:02 a.m., two radar operators spotted large groups of aircraft in flight toward the island from the north, but, with a flight of B-17s expected from the United States at the time, they were told to sound no alarm. Thus, the Japanese air assault came as a devastating surprise to the naval base.
Much of the Pacific fleet was rendered useless: Five of eight battleships, three destroyers, and seven other ships were sunk or severely damaged, and more than 200 aircraft were destroyed. A total of 2,400 Americans were killed and 1,200 were wounded, many while valiantly attempting to repulse the attack. Japan’s losses were some 30 planes, five midget submarines, and fewer than 100 men. Fortunately for the United States, all three Pacific fleet carriers were out at sea on training maneuvers. These giant aircraft carriers would have their revenge against Japan six months later at the Battle of Midway, reversing the tide against the previously invincible Japanese navy in a spectacular victory.

The day after Pearl Harbor was bombed, President Roosevelt appeared before a joint session of Congress and declared, “Yesterday, December 7, 1941–a date which will live in infamy–the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” After a brief and forceful speech, he asked Congress to approve a resolution recognizing the state of war between the United States and Japan. The Senate voted for war against Japan by 82 to 0, and the House of Representatives approved the resolution by a vote of 388 to 1. The sole dissenter was Representative Jeannette Rankin of Montana, a devout pacifist who had also cast a dissenting vote against the U.S. entrance into World War I. Three days later, Germany and Italy declared war against the United States, and the U.S. government responded in kind.

The American contribution to the successful Allied war effort spanned four long years and cost more than 400,000 American lives.

Also, ON THIS DAY: In Dover, Delaware, the U.S. Constitution is unanimously ratified by all 30 delegates to the Delaware Constitutional Convention, making Delaware the first state of the modern United States.
Less than four months before, the Constitution was signed by 37 of the original 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention meeting in Philadelphia. The Constitution was sent to the states for ratification, and, by the terms of the document, the Constitution would become binding once nine of the former 13 colonies had ratified the document. Delaware led the process, and on June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, making federal democracy the law of the land. Government under the U.S. Constitution took effect on March 4, 1789.
_______________________________

WORD OF THE DAY

ostracize; verb; (AH-struh-syze)

What It Means

Ostracize means "to exclude from a group by common consent."

// The Senator knew that he might be ostracized by his party, but he voted with his heart and against the party line, nevertheless.

Examples

"Our mental health suffers if we feel separated, ostracized or lack a sense of belonging." — Tracy Brower, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2021

Build your vocabulary! Get Word of the Day in your inbox every day.

Did You Know?

In ancient Greece, citizens whose power or influence threatened the stability of the state could be exiled by a practice called ostracism. Voters would elect to banish another citizen by writing that citizen's name down on a potsherd. Those receiving enough votes would then be subject to temporary exile from the state. Ostracize originated with the meaning "to exile by the ancient method of ostracism," but these days it usually refers to the general exclusion of a person from a group at the agreement of its members.

(from Merriam Webster and history dot com)

National Transportation Safety Board
Aviation Accident Preliminary Report

This report can be read HERE

This is a prelminary report with the final version not yet available.  There could be errors in this report.

Church Services 12/5/2021

Service at Holy Cross

Mary Holm lit the Advent Candles

Leona Pease read the readings.....Joan Banville read the Gospel

Father Peter could not come over due to a storm in Charlevoix, so the service was led by Patrick Nugent.

View video of the service HERE

Service at the Beaver Island Christian Church

Judi Meister gave the announcements

Pastor Martin began the service with a prayer.

Sue Oole and friend lighted the Advent Candles.

The two ladies read the scripture readings.

Pastor Martin gave the sermon.

Christian Church Bulletin for 12/5/2021

View video of the service HERE

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

A Christmas Cantata

December 5, 2021, at 3 p.m.

The pieces of music in the "Bells" Cantata are Carol of the Bells, O Come O Come Emmanuel, It Came Upon the Midnight Clear, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, and Silent Night.

There wasn't a Cantata last year due to the seriousness of the pandemic.  This year, the numbers of singers is down, but this group is truly wanting to provide some Christmas cheer to the community.  The rehearsals have been taking place throughout the month of November with two rehearsals during the week of the performance.

The only performance took place Sunday at 3 p.m. and include individual performances prior to the Cantata.  Come out and help spread the Christmas cheer!

The amazing organizer and conductor of the Christimas Cantata, Kathy Speck

Sheri Timsak sang the Christmas version of "Hallelujah!

The Cantata choir in performance of "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day".

View video of the performance HERE

COVID Exposure at BIRHC

December 6, 2021

The BI Rural Health Center is temporarily restricting appointments to only urgent and emergency care until further notice. One of our staff members has just become ill with confirmed COVID. Given the entire staff has thus had some direct exposure we are implementing precautions to protect the public. Our provider(s) and staff will test daily and be available for urgent/emergent cases only, until we are sure there are no other active infections. We will keep everyone up to date on a regular basis and will get back to normal operations as soon as possible.

Effective immediately we will thus be taking NO WALK-IN VISITS for any purpose, including water testing kits. We do however encourage you to call with any issues as we can arrange for telemed/phone interaction with one of our providers.

If you have had a known exposure or have COVID-like symptoms, please call 231-448-2275 as testing arrangements are currently being made and evaluation is available!

Please take ALL precautions possible in your daily activities and minimize your exposure to others.

For more info, call 231-448-2275.

Weather by Joe

December 6, 2021

Good morning from Beaver Island! Hope you all like the white precipitation received here, and the snow day with the closure of the Beaver Island Community School.

Right now on Carlisle Road at 7:45 a.m. it is 32 degrees with a 5 mph wind from the E. The humidity is 99%. The pressure is 29.35. The sky is cloudy, and visibility is ten miles.

TODAY, it is expected to be windy with the high in the morning of 35 degrees with expected falling temperatures during the day down to the middle twenties. Wind will be from the WNW at 25 to 35 mph. Chance of snow is 50%.

TONIGHT, it is forecast for winds and intermittent snow before midnight. The chance of snow continues to be 50%. The wind will continue from the WNW at 20 to 30 mph with gusts over 40 mph. The low will be in the teens.

TOMORROW, it is forecast for cloudy skies with the high being in the lower 20's. The wind will be from the W at 10 to 20 mph.
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ON THIS DAY

On December 6, 1884, in Washington, D.C., workers place a nine-inch aluminum pyramid atop a tower of white marble, completing the construction of an impressive monument to the city’s namesake and the nation’s first president, George Washington. As early as 1783, the infant U.S. Congress decided that a statue of George Washington, the great Revolutionary War general, should be placed near the site of the new Congressional building, wherever it might be. After then-President Washington asked him to lay out a new federal capital on the Potomac River in 1791, architect Pierre L’Enfant left a place for the statue at the western end of the sweeping National Mall (near the monument’s present location).
It wasn’t until 1832, however–33 years after Washington’s death–that anyone really did anything about the monument. That year, a private Washington National Monument Society was formed. After holding a design competition and choosing an elaborate Greek temple-like design by architect Robert Mills, the society began a fundraising drive to raise money for the statue’s construction. These efforts–including appeals to the nation’s schoolchildren–raised some $230,000, far short of the $1 million needed. Construction began anyway, on July 4, 1848, as representatives of the society laid the cornerstone of the monument: a 24,500-pound block of pure white marble.
Six years later, with funds running low, construction was halted. Around the time the Civil War began in 1861, author Mark Twain described the unfinished monument as looking like a “hollow, oversized chimney.” No further progress was made until 1876–the centennial of American independence–when President Ulysses S. Grant authorized construction to be completed.

Made of some 36,000 blocks of marble and granite stacked 555 feet in the air, the monument was the tallest structure in the world at the time of its completion in December 1884. In the six months following the dedication ceremony, over 10,000 people climbed the nearly 900 steps to the top of the Washington Monument. Today, an elevator makes the trip far easier, and more than 800,000 people visit the monument each year. A city law passed in 1910 restricted the height of new buildings to ensure that the monument will remain the tallest structure in Washington, D.C.—a fitting tribute to the man known as the “Father of His Country.”

Also, ON THIS DAY: On December 6, 1865, the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, officially ending the institution of slavery, is ratified. “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” With these words, the single greatest change wrought by the Civil War was officially noted in the Constitution.
The ratification came eight months after the end of the war, but it represented the culmination of the struggle against slavery. When the war began, some in the North were against fighting what they saw as a crusade to end slavery. Although many northern Democrats and conservative Republicans were opposed to slavery’s expansion, they were ambivalent about outlawing the institution entirely. The war’s escalation after the First Battle of Bull Run, Virginia, in July 1861 caused many to rethink the role that slavery played in creating the conflict.
By 1862, Lincoln realized that it was folly to wage such a bloody war without plans to eliminate slavery. In September 1862, following the Union victory at the Battle of Antietam in Maryland, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that all enslaved people in territory still in rebellion on January 1, 1863, would be declared forever free. The move was largely symbolic, as it only freed enslaved people in areas outside of Union control, but it changed the conflict from a war for the reunification of the states to a war whose objectives included the destruction of slavery.
Lincoln believed that a constitutional amendment was necessary to ensure the end of slavery. In 1864, Congress debated several proposals. Some insisted on including provisions to prevent discrimination against blacks, but the Senate Judiciary Committee provided the eventual language. It borrowed from the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, when slavery was banned from the area north of the Ohio River. The Senate passed the amendment in April 1864.
A Republican victory in the 1864 presidential election would guarantee the success of the amendment. The Republican platform called for the “utter and complete destruction” of slavery, while the Democrats favored restoration of states’ rights, which would include at least the possibility for the states to maintain slavery. Lincoln’s overwhelming victory set in motion the events leading to ratification of the amendment. The House passed the measure in January 1865 and it was sent to the states for ratification. When Georgia ratified it on December 6, 1865, the institution of slavery effectively ceased to exist in the United States.
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WORD OF THE DAY

fomite; noun; (FOH-myte)

What It Means

A fomite is an object (such as a dish, doorknob, or article of clothing) that may be contaminated with bacteria or viruses and serve in their transmission.

//Everyday objects that are smooth, like our phones and credit cards, can be fomites.

Examples

"Sneezing and coughing can spread germs onto surfaces either through the droplets released from the sneeze or cough itself or through germs from the sneeze or cough getting onto the hands, which then come into contact with fomites." — Lois Zoppi, News Medical, 18 Feb. 2021
.

Did You Know?

"Disinfectant on your hands keeps us healthier and fomites no longer foment as much disease." Australian newspaper contributor Peter Goers was likely going for alliteration when he paired up fomite and foment, a verb meaning "to promote the growth or development of"—but, whether he realized it or not, the words fomite and foment are related. Fomite is a back-formation of fomites, the Latin plural of fomes, itself a word for "tinder." (Much like tinder is a catalyst of fire, a fomite can kindle disease.) Fomes is related to the Latin verb fovēre ("to heat"), an ancestor of foment.

(from Merriam Webster and history dot com)

Weather by Joe

December 5, 2021

Good morning from Beaver Island!

At 7 am on Carlisle Road, it is 24 degrees. There is currently no wind. The humidity is at 89%. The pressure is 30.18. The skies are dark, but appear to be partly cloudy. Visibility is ten miles.

TODAY, it is expected to be snow coming down. The chance of snow is given as 100%. The high temperature for the day will at the freezing point of water. The winds will be from the ESE at 10 to 20 mph. Accumulation of snow could reach three inches.

TONIGHT, it is forecast for snow which will mix with rain late. Chance of precipitation is 100%. The low temperature will remain at freezing. Winds will be from the SSE at 15 to 25 mph with gusts near 40 mph.

TOMORROW, it is forecast for occasional snow showers and lots of wind. Chance of snow is 50%. The high will be slightly above freezing. Winds will be from the WNW at 20 to 30 mph.
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ON THIS DAY

The 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is ratified, repealing the 18th Amendment and bringing an end to the era of national prohibition of alcohol in America. At 5:32 p.m. EST, Utah became the 36th state to ratify the amendment, achieving the requisite three-fourths majority of states’ approval. Pennsylvania and Ohio had ratified it earlier in the day.
The movement for the prohibition of alcohol began in the early 19th century, when Americans concerned about the adverse effects of drinking began forming temperance societies. By the late 19th century, these groups had become a powerful political force, campaigning on the state level and calling for national liquor abstinence. Several states outlawed the manufacture or sale of alcohol within their own borders. In December 1917, the 18th Amendment, prohibiting the “manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes,” was passed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification. On January 16, 1919, the 18th Amendment was ratified by the states. Prohibition went into effect the next year, on January 17, 1920.
In the meantime, Congress passed the Volstead Act on October 28, 1919, over President Woodrow Wilson’s veto. The Volstead Act provided for the enforcement of Prohibition, including the creation of a special Prohibition unit of the Treasury Department. In its first six months, the unit destroyed thousands of illicit stills run by bootleggers. However, federal agents and police did little more than slow the flow of booze, and organized crime flourished in America. Large-scale bootleggers like Al Capone of Chicago built criminal empires out of illegal distribution efforts, and federal and state governments lost billions in tax revenue. In most urban areas, the individual consumption of alcohol was largely tolerated and drinkers gathered at “speakeasies,” the Prohibition-era term for saloons.

Prohibition, failing fully to enforce sobriety and costing billions, rapidly lost popular support in the early 1930s. In 1933, the 21st Amendment to the Constitution was passed and ratified, ending national Prohibition. After the repeal of the 18th Amendment, some states continued Prohibition by maintaining statewide temperance laws. Mississippi, the last dry state in the Union, ended Prohibition in 1966.

Also, ON THIS DAY: A fire at the Brooklyn Theater in New York kills nearly 300 people and injures hundreds more on December 5, 1876. Some victims perished from a combination of burns and smoke inhalation; others were trampled to death in the general panic that ensued.
The play The Two Orphans starring Harry S. Murdock and Kate Claxton was showing at the Brooklyn Theater on the night of December 5. The theater, built five years earlier at the corner of Johnson and Washington streets, was very popular at the time and all 900 seats were filled. Sometime near the start of the performance, a gas light ignited some extra scenery stored in the fly space behind the stage. It wasn’t until midway through the play that stagehands noticed the quickly spreading flames. Unfortunately, there were no fire hoses or water buckets at hand and the fire spread, unbeknownst to the cast and audience.
Finally, someone shouted “Fire!” and despite Murdock’s best attempt to calm the crowd, bedlam ensued, particularly in the balcony and rear of the theater. A narrow staircase was the only the exit from the balcony (there were no fire escapes) and panic resulted in a stampede in which many were crushed and others remained trapped. Meanwhile, the fire grew out of control. Witnesses saw Murdock return to the dressing room to change clothes; he then tried to wiggle out of a small window. He couldn’t get through, and died when the floor gave way and he fell to the basement.
By the time firefighters arrived it was too late for hundreds of people. The fire raged through the night and destroyed nearly the entire building. When would-be rescuers were finally able to get in, all they found were bodies melted together. Up to 100 of the victims were burned beyond recognition and could not be identified. A mass grave was set up at the Green-Wood Cemetery. In all, approximately 295 people died. A 30-foot-high granite memorial was later erected in their honor by the city of Brooklyn.
________________________________

WORD OF THE DAY

commodious; adjective; (kuh-MOH-dee-us)

Commodious means "comfortably or conveniently spacious"—in a word, "roomy."

// The description of the house for sale notes a commodious living room adjacent to a large kitchen, both perfect for entertaining guests.

Examples

"When you live in Manhattan, nothing is commodious, and … I became intimate with previously ignored details of my home, and suddenly, its long-neglected flaws and illogical organization systems began to feel unbearable." — Hanya Yanagihara, The New York Times Style Magazine, 2 Oct. 2020

Did You Know?

Commodious means "roomy." Earlier meanings are "beneficial" or "useful" as well as "serviceable." The adjective comes from Latin commodum, meaning "convenience." A commodious space, unarguably, has its benefits and conveniences.

(from Merriam Webster and history dot com)

Snowy Owl Returns

December 3, 2021

There have been sightings of the snowy owls in Charlevoix County, and now there have been some here on Beaver Island.  This snowy owl was seen at the BIBCO parking lot on Donegal Bay Road, once seen at the gift shop area and then at the parking lot.  It is great to see them back on the island.

Of course, these photos were taken with a zoom lens, and just before dark began to set in on Friday evening.

St. James Township Campground Progress

December 1, 2021

These pictures and video were taken of the campground near the end of November, and they show the progress of the completion of the campground before the freezing temperatures pretty much caused the work to stop.  These improvements, when finished, will provide a much nicer and "less rustic" camping for those who wish to have some of the amenities of camping that were not available at the public campgrounds on Beaver Island.

The new well and the small building for the controls and the equipment.

More pictures of the improvements

The clearing of brush shows the exceptional views from this campground on the rustic side.

The piles of sand and gravel indicate more work yet to be done.

VIEW a short video HERE

Weather by Joe

December 4, 2021

Good morning from Beaver Island!

At 6:45 a.m. here on Carlisle Road, it is 32 degrees with a 7 mph wind from the W. The humidity is at 76%. The pressure is 29.94. It is cloudy with visibility at ten miles.

TODAY, it is expected to be cloudy with flurries possible. The high will be just a little above freezing. The wind will be from the WNW at 15 to 25 mph.

TONIGHT, it is forecast for mostly cloudy skies with a low in the middle 20's. There is a chance of snow flurries. The wind will be from the NW at 10 to 20 mph.

TOMORROW, it is forecast for snowy periods throughout the day. Chance of snow is 90%. The high will be near freezing. The wind will be from the SE at 10 to 20 mph.
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ON THIS DAY

In Warsaw, a group of Polish Christians put their own lives at risk when they set up the Council for the Assistance of the Jews. The group was led by two women, Zofia Kossak and Wanda Filipowicz.
Since the German invasion of Poland in 1939, the Jewish population had been either thrust into ghettos, transported to concentration and labor camps, or murdered. Jewish homes and shops were confiscated and synagogues were burned to the ground. Word about the Jews’ fate finally leaked out in June of 1942, when a Warsaw underground newspaper, the Liberty Brigade, made public the news that tens of thousands of Jews were being gassed at Chelmno, a death camp in Poland—almost seven months after the extermination of prisoners began.
Despite the growing public knowledge of the “Final Solution,” the mass extermination of European Jewry and the growing network of extermination camps in Poland, little was done to stop it. Outside Poland, there were only angry speeches from politicians and promises of postwar reprisals. Within Poland, non-Jewish Poles were themselves often the objects of persecution and forced labor at the hands of their Nazi occupiers; being Slavs, they too were considered “inferior” to the Aryan Germans.
But this did not stop Zofia Kossak and Wanda Filipowicz, two Polish Christians who were determined to do what they could to protect their Jewish neighbors. The fates of Kossak and Filipowicz are unclear so it is uncertain whether their mission was successful, but the very fact that they established the Council is evidence that some brave souls were willing to risk everything to help persecuted Jews. Kossak and Filipowicz were not alone in their struggle to help; in fact, only two days after the Council was established, the SS, Hitler’s “political” terror police force, rounded up 23 men, women, and children, and locked some in a cottage and some in a barn—then burned them alive. Their crime: suspicion of harboring Jews.

Despite the bravery of some Polish Christians, and Jewish resistance fighters within the Warsaw ghetto, who rebelled in 1943 (some of whom found refuge among their Christian neighbors as they attempted to elude the SS), the Nazi death machine proved overwhelming. Poland became the killing ground for not only Poland’s Jewish citizens, but much of Europe’s: Approximately 4.5 million Jews were killed in Poland’s death and labor camps by war’s end.

Also, ON THIS DAY: On December 4, 1783, future President George Washington, then commanding general of the Continental Army, summons his military officers to Fraunces Tavern in New York City to inform them that he will be resigning his commission and returning to civilian life.
Washington had led the army through six long years of war against the British before the American forces finally prevailed at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781. There, Washington received the formal surrender of British General Lord Charles Cornwallis, effectively ending the Revolutionary War, although it took almost two more years to conclude a peace treaty and slightly longer for all British troops to leave New York.
Although Washington had often during the war privately lamented the sorry state of his largely undisciplined and unhealthy troops and the ineffectiveness of most of his officer corps, he expressed genuine appreciation for his brotherhood of soldiers on this day in 1783. Observers of the intimate scene at Fraunces Tavern described Washington as “suffused in tears,” embracing his officers one by one after issuing his farewell. Washington left the tavern for Annapolis, Maryland, where he officially resigned his commission on December 23. He then returned to his beloved estate at Mount Vernon, Virginia, where he planned to live out his days as a gentleman farmer.
Washington was not out of the public spotlight for long, however. In 1789, he was coaxed out of retirement and elected as the first president of the United States, a position he held until 1797.
_______________________________

WORD OF THE DAY

interloper; noun; (in-ter-LOH-per)

What It Means

An interloper is a person or thing that intrudes in a place or sphere of activity.

// As he watched the doe and fawn grazing in the field, the photographer was struck by a feeling of being an interloper.

Examples

"For decades, physicists have suspected an interloper. A reclusive, hypothetical subatomic particle might be creeping into studies of neutrinos, nearly massless particles with no electric charge. A new study casts doubt on that idea…." — Emily Conover, Science News, 27 Oct. 2021

Did You Know?

The -loper part of interloper is believed to be either from an English dialectal word meaning "leap" or from a Dutch word meaning "to run." (The prefix inter- means "between" or "among.") An interloper is essentially one that jumps into the midst of things without an invitation to do so.

(from Merriam Webster and history dot com)

Beaver Island Community School Weekly Update

Friday, December 3, 2021

Islanders Meet the Panthers!

The Beaver Island Girls and Boys Basketball Teams (and an entourage of parents and supporters) are in Put-in-Bay, Ohio for the 2021 Great Lakes Islands Tournament. The folks on South Bass Island are excited to host this Island-to-Island exchange. Due to outbreaks of COVID in the other schools, the weekend will feature two teams as they match their skills on the court in double header games.

If you are interested in catching the games, WPIB is bringing all the live action to those who are unable to make the trip to South Bass Island. Below is the link to access their free broadcast of all the action from Put-in-Bay, Ohio:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2QNZPGd09JMvlD_Kt0YGZQ

Here is the game schedule as it now stands:

Beaver Island, Michigan and Put-in-Bay are now scheduled to play a double header:

    Varsity Girls - 6:00pm Friday

    Varsity Boys - 7:30pm Friday

    Varsity Boys - 10:45 am Saturday

    Varsity Girls - 12:00pm Saturday

GOOOOOOOOO IIIISSLLAAAAAANDEERS!

The “A-Thon”—Friday, December 10th from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm

The BICS Student Council is sponsoring an “a-thon” fundraiser to raise money for Northern Family Intervention Services. In addition to the free-throwing, goal-kicking, and volleyball serving, there will be a bake sale in the hallway outside the gym. Family and community members are welcome to come and watch the “a-thon” and purchase the tasty baked goods. All spectators will need to wear masks…and please stay home if you are feeling any symptoms.

Friendly Lunch Reminder

Sorry about not getting the December Lunch Menus out before the Thanksgiving Break. If you are still interested in having your child eat school lunch, please complete the attached order form.

Masking Option for Winter Athletes—Testing Every Tuesday Morning

The HDNW has modified their mask order to allow student athletes who participate in a weekly COVID-19 testing protocol to not wear a mask while actively playing or practicing (they still need to wear their masks at all other times). We will be testing at 8:00 every Tuesday morning. Students can sign up for this program anytime—even if they missed the first two weeks of testing.

Holiday Events at the Community Center Cancelled

Out of an abundance of caution and to ensure the safety of the Island community, the Beaver Island Community Center is cancelling the indoor events planned for December. They will be bringing the Gingerbread House Kits to the school for distribution to our families who are interested…we will let you know when they are available.

Have a Great Weekend!

Deb Pomorski
BICS Secretary
debbiep@beaverisland.k12.mi.us
231-448-2744

Weather by Joe

December 3, 2021

Good morning from Beaver Island!

At 6:30 a.m. on Carlisle Road, it is 29 degrees with humidity at 87%. The wind is from the W at 2 mph. The pressure is 30.03. It is partly cloudy with visibility at ten miles.

TODAY, it is expected to be cloudy with snow showers in the afternoon. Chance of snow is 30%. The high will be in the low to middle 30's. The wind will be light and variable.

TONIGHT, it is forecast for snow showers. Chance of snow is 50%. As the night progresses, it will become partly cloudy. The low will be in the 30's. Winds will be from the SW at 15 to 25 mph.

TOMORROW, it is forecast for more clouds than sun. There is a chance of snow flurries. Temperatures will be in the low to middle 30's. The wind will be from the WNW at 10 to 20 mph.
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ON THIS DAY

On December 3, 1947, Marlon Brando’s famous cry of “STELLA!” first booms across a Broadway stage, electrifying the audience at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre during the first-ever performance of Tennessee Williams’ play A Streetcar Named Desire.
The 23-year-old Brando played the rough, working-class Polish-American Stanley Kowalski, whose violent clash with Blanche DuBois (played on Broadway by Jessica Tandy), a Southern belle with a dark past, is at the center of Williams’ famous drama. Blanche comes to stay with her sister Stella (Kim Hunter), Stanley’s wife, at their home in the French Quarter of New Orleans; she and Stanley immediately despise each other. In the climactic scene, Stanley rapes Blanche, causing her to lose her fragile grip on sanity; the play ends with her being led away in a straitjacket.
Streetcar, produced by Irene Mayer Selznick and directed by Elia Kazan, shocked mid-century audiences with its frank depiction of sexuality and brutality onstage. When the curtain went down on opening night, there was a moment of stunned silence before the crowd erupted into a round of applause that lasted 30 minutes. On December 17, the cast left New York to go on the road. The show would run for more than 800 performances, turning the charismatic Brando into an overnight star. Tandy won a Tony Award for her performance, and Williams was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
In 1951, Kazan made Streetcar into a movie. Brando, Hunter and Karl Malden (as Stanley’s friend and Blanche’s love interest) reprised their roles. The role of Blanche went to Vivien Leigh, the scenery-chewing star of Gone with the Wind. Controversy flared when the Catholic Legion of Decency threatened to condemn the film unless the explicitly sexual scenes—including the climactic rape—were removed. When Williams, who wrote the screenplay, refused to take out the rape, the Legion insisted that Stanley be punished onscreen. As a result, the movie (but not the play) ends with Stella leaving Stanley.

A Streetcar Named Desire earned 12 Oscar nominations, including acting nods for each of its four leads. The movie won for Best Art Direction, and Leigh, Hunter and Malden all took home awards; Brando lost to Humphrey Bogart in The African Queen.

Also, ON THIS DAY: In a letter dated December 3, 1776, General George Washington writes to Congress from his headquarters in Trenton, New Jersey, to report that he had transported much of the Continental Army’s stores and baggage across the Delaware River to Pennsylvania. His famous crossing of the Delaware would come less than one month later.
In his letter, Washington wrote, "Immediately on my arrival here, I ordered the removal of all the military and other stores and baggage over the Delaware, a great quantity are already got over, and as soon as the boats come up from Philadelphia, we shall load them, by which means I hope to have every thing secured this night and tomorrow if we are not disturbed."
Washington then made the critical strategic move of confiscating and burning all the boats along the Delaware to prevent British troops from pursuing his beleaguered forces across the river. The British strategy of chasing Washington across New Jersey, rather than capturing his entire army in Manhattan, seemed to be a stroke of genius. As New Jersey was devastated at the hands of British forces and Washington’s men cowered in Pennsylvania, even staunch Patriots, including Thomas Jefferson, considered surrender to the crown.
Also on this day, General Washington received a letter dated November 30 from his second-in-command, General Charles Lee, reporting that he was about to cross into New York near Peekskill on this day in 1776. In an apt reflection of the state of the American fortunes, the British captured General Lee nine days later in New Jersey. Richard Stockton, a leading New Jersey patriot and signer of the Declaration of Independence, was also in British custody and was forced to swear an oath of allegiance to the British king along with thousands of his New Jersey neighbors.
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WORD OF THE DAY

galvanize; verb; (GAL-vuh-nyze)

What It Means

Galvanize means "to cause (people) to take action on something that they are excited or concerned about."

// The council's proposal to close the library has galvanized the town's residents.

Examples

"I think circumstances we've been through helped get us to this point. Whether it is the natural disaster, the pandemic or some of the tough losses … all of it helped galvanize this team." — Dwain Jenkins, quoted in The Advocate (Louisiana), 19 Oct. 2021

Did You Know?

Luigi Galvani was an Italian physician and physicist who, in the 1770s, studied the electrical nature of nerve impulses by applying electrical stimulation to frogs' leg muscles, causing them to contract. Although Galvani's theory that animal tissue contained an innate electrical impulse was disproven, the French word galvanisme came to describe a current of electricity especially when produced by chemical action. English borrowed the word as galvanism, and shortly after the verb galvanize came to life.

(from Merriam Webster and history dot com)

Health Department of Northwest Michigan COVID-19 Update 

December 2, 2021

Unvaccinated causing strain on hospitals, health systems  

As Michigan continues to record high numbers of COVID-19 cases, new data from the Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA) proves that the majority of Michigan residents severely sick with COVID-19 are unvaccinated. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and MHA are pleading with residents to get vaccinated for their own health, the safety of Michigan’s health care personnel, and to avoid additional strain on health care systems that are already stretched and struggling to respond. 

Locally, the McLaren and Munson health systems, which serve the Health Department of Northwest Michigan and other counties across the region, are experiencing similar problems with pressure put on limited bed availability, and an overburdened staff. 

“Vaccination is our most powerful tool,” said Dr. Josh Meyerson, Medical Director with the Health Department. MDHHS data from January 15-November 19 demonstrates that unvaccinated people account for 85.8% of COVID cases, 87% of hospitalizations, and 86.4% of deaths, Dr. Meyerson noted.  

The data is clear: if you are unvaccinated, you are risking hospitalization or death, health officials said.  

“Getting vaccinated keeps you and your loved ones safe as we gather together this holiday,” Dr. Meyerson said. 

Based on recent data from most Michigan health systems, MHA has found that three out of four COVID patients are unvaccinated (76%), 87% of COVID ICU patients are unvaccinated and 88% of COVID ventilator patients are unvaccinated. 

Michigan's number of hospitalized COVID-19 cases reached a new high this week, with 4,291 patients hospitalized. Recently, Michigan reached 70% of residents 16 and older who have received their first vaccine dose, but cases are surging in the unvaccinated population.  

MDHHS and the local health department are monitoring for the COVID-19 omicron variant which had not been detected in the state as of the time of this release. Residents are advised that the presence of variants makes it even more important to get vaccinated, including the booster doses to increase protection, wear masks, and take other precautions. 

In addition to getting vaccinated and wearing masks – particularly indoors and in crowded areas – other things people can do to protect themselves and their loved ones include: 

·        Getting tested for COVID-19, especially before gatherings. 

·        Physically distancing from others and avoiding crowds. 

·        Washing hands frequently with soap and water and cleaning hands with alcohol-based hand rub. 

·        Covering your mouth and nose with a bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. 

·        Self-isolating until you recover if you develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19.  

MDHHS has issued a public health advisory that all Michiganders, regardless of vaccination status, should wear a mask in indoor public settings and those who are not fully vaccinated or who are immunocompromised should avoid large crowds or gatherings. 

For a list of vaccine providers and locations in Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet and Otsego counties, click here. To schedule an appointment with the Health Department of Northwest Michigan exclusively for children 5 to 11 years old, click here. To schedule an appointment with the health department for anyone 12 and older, click here. A parent/guardian must accompany anyone younger than 18 to a COVID-19 clinic. Please bring an insurance card to the appointment. Anyone with questions or unable to find a time or date that works for them and/or their child may call the health department at 800-432-4121. 

To find a test site in the area, visit http://www.nwhealth.org/covid19main.html. 

Stay up to date on the latest information in the Health Department of Northwest Michigan jurisdiction by liking and following our Facebook page and visiting our COVID-19 Data Dashboard. To locate a testing facility, visit the Michigan COVID-19 Test Finder website. To track the risk levels of COVID-19 pandemic indicators, visit the MI Safe Start Map website. For more information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, visit the MDHHS vaccine website or the CDC vaccine website.

LAUREL JOHNSON, M.Ed, CHES

Community Health Coordinator, Public Information Officer

3434 M-119, Suite A, Harbor Springs, MI 49740

Office: 231-347-5628 

www.nwhealth.org

BITAC Meeting Rescheduled

Beaver Island Christian Church Flyer

Weather by Joe

December 2, 2021

Good morning from Beaver Island!

At 6:30 a.m. on Carlisle Road, it is 41 degrees with a 4 mph wind out of the W. The humidity is 87%. The pressure is 29.32. It is partly cloudy with visibility at ten miles.

TODAY, it is expected to be windy with showers early, with just cloudy skies this afternoon. There is a 50% chance of rain or snow as the morning high in the 40's will begin to drop to near freezing. The winds will be strong at 20 to 30 mph from the NW.

TONIGHT, it is forecast for cloudy skies with wind from the NNW at 10 to 15 mph. The low will be in the upper 20's.

TOMORROW, it is forecast for cloudy skies with a 30% chance of snow. The high will be just above freezing, and the wind will be from the SW at 5 to 10 mph.
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ON THIS DAY

During his annual address to Congress, President James Monroe proclaims a new U.S. foreign policy initiative that becomes known as the “Monroe Doctrine.” Primarily the work of Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, the Monroe Doctrine forbade European interference in the American hemisphere but also asserted U.S. neutrality in regard to future European conflicts.
The origins of the Monroe Doctrine stem from attempts by several European powers to reassert their influence in the Americas in the early 1820s. In North America, Russia had attempted to expand its influence in the Alaska territory, and in Central and South America the U.S. government feared a Spanish colonial resurgence. Britain too was actively seeking a major role in the political and economic future of the Americas, and Adams feared a subservient role for the United States in an Anglo-American alliance.

The United States invoked the Monroe Doctrine to defend its increasingly imperialistic role in the Americas in the mid-19th century, but it was not until the Spanish-American War in 1898 that the United States declared war against a European power over its interference in the American hemisphere. The isolationist position of the Monroe Doctrine was also a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy in the 19th century, and it took the two world wars of the 20th century to draw a hesitant America into its new role as a major global power.

Also, ON THIS DAY: Legend has it that on the night of December 2, 1777, Philadelphia housewife and nurse Lydia Darragh single-handedly saves the lives of General George Washington and his Continental Army when she overhears the British planning a surprise attack on Washington’s army for the following day.
During the occupation of Philadelphia, British General William Howe stationed his headquarters across the street from the Darragh home, and when Howe’s headquarters proved too small to hold meetings, he commandeered a large upstairs room in the Darraghs’ house. Although uncorroborated, family legend holds that Mrs. Darragh would eavesdrop and take notes on the British meetings from an adjoining room and would conceal the notes by sewing them into her coat before passing them onto American troops stationed outside the city.
On the evening of December 2, 1777, Darragh overheard the British commanders planning a surprise attack on Washington’s army at Whitemarsh, Pennsylvania, for December 4 and 5. Using a cover story that she needed to buy flour from a nearby mill just outside the British line, Darragh passed the information to American Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Craig the following day.
The British marched towards Whitemarsh on the evening of December 4, 1777, and were surprised to find General Washington and the Continental Army waiting for them. After three inconclusive days of skirmishing, General Howe chose to return his troops to Philadelphia.
It is said that members of the Central Intelligence Agency still tell the story of Lydia Darragh, one of the first spies in American history.
_________________________

WORD OF THE DAY

smarmy; adjective; (SMAR-mee)

What It Means

Smarmy means "behaving in a way that seems polite, kind, or pleasing but is not genuine or believable."

// Online reviews of the resort warned of smarmy street vendors when wandering from the tourist areas.

Examples

"Before [Daniel Craig], James Bond was portrayed by Sean Connery as suave and immovable; by George Lazenby as vulnerable and tragic; by Roger Moore as smarmy and loose…." — Aidan Whatman, Whatculture.com, 7 Oct. 2021

Did You Know?

The history of smarmy is oily. Etymologists don't know where smarm (the verb from which it is based) came from, but they do know that it meant "to smear" or "to make smooth or oily" before gaining the meaning "to flatter." The adjective smarmy comes from the latter meaning.

(from Merriam Webster and history dot com)

From the BICS Student Council

Cheer 'em on! Help 'em out! Kick, serve, swish!

On Friday, December 10th, the BICS Student Council is holding a fundraiser to support Northern Family Intervention Services. It's a volleyball-soccer-basketball-a-thon where students will be winning donations per serve, per goal, and per free throw. The Student Council will also, of course, accept flat donations for those who simply want to support the cause and not have the nail-biting fear over how many serves, goals, and shots they'll make:) 100% of the proceeds go to NFIS.

The a-thon will run from 3:30 p.m. to approximately 6:30 p.m. on Friday, December 10. There will also be baked goods for sale at the same time with 50% of the proceeds going to Northern Family Intervention Services and 50% going to Student Council. Come on in and buy some treats and maybe stick around for a bit to cheer the students on. Masks will, of course, be required, but thankfully your cheerful cheers will still be audible!

Students have been making calls over the last week and will continue to do so for the next several days. They are not running through the whole phonebook, though, so if you would like a call, please let me know at adamr@beaverisland.k12.mi.us or 231-492-2458, and I will get someone on it right away. If you are looking for some other way to support the event, you can also drop off a plate of goodies to sell.

Thank you for your time, and we hope to see you next Friday!

Sincerely,
BICS Student Council

From BI COA

Hello friends,

What did Mrs. Claus say to Santa when he asked about the weather? The answer will be at the end of this brief Charlevoix County Commission on Aging on Beaver Island note.

At 9 a.m. on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, meal vouchers will be available to purchase and pick up to all C.O.A. clients who wish to use meal vouchers in December. Each person is allowed 10 meal vouchers for the month to use at participating island eateries. For more information on meal vouchers, please call 448-2124 or the main office in Charlevoix at 231-237-0103.

The Beaver Island Community School menu and order forms are available in this post or at the Beaver Island Charlevoix County C.O.A. office. Call 231-448-2124 to pick one up or print from home and return the C.O.A. office on Beaver Island.

From 1-2:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 14 at the Beaver Island Community Center the C.O.A. will serve roasted pork loin, sides, and dessert. This meal is take-out only. This meal is open to anyone—no matter your age—who lives on Beaver Island. To reserve your dinner please call 231-448-2124.

The Charlevoix County Commission on Aging offices will be closed on December 13 and December 14. Call 231 237-0103 to speak to someone immediately or 231-448-2124 to leave a message for Lonnie Allen. Also, for the Christmas season Charlevoix County C.O.A offices are closed on December 23 and December 24. We will reopen at 9 a.m. on Monday, December 27.

Joke: What did Mrs. Claus say to Santa when he asked about the weather? Answer: It looks like Rain-Dear.

Grace and peace be with you,

Lonnie Allen
Site Coordinator, Beaver Island COA
Charlevoix County Beaver Island
Building coordinator/Maintenance assistant
(231) 448-2124
allenl@charlevoixcounty.org

BICS 2021 Dec order form

BICS December 2021 menu-1

Weather by Joe

December 1, 2021

Good morning from Beaver Island! Welcome to December!

At 6:45 a.m. on Carlisle Road, it is 24 degrees with no wind. Humidity is 97%. The pressure is 29.94. It is partly cloudy with visibility of ten miles.

TODAY, it is expected to be cloudy with rain and snow mix, turning to all rain as the temperature warms up into the low 40's. Chance of rain is 70%. A mix of snow and rain is possible throughout the day. The wind will be from the SSW at 10 to 20 mph.

TONIGHT, it is forecast for windy and showers early with cloudy skies overnight. Chance of rain is 40%. The low will be near 40 degrees. The wind will be from the WSW at 20 to 30 mph.

TOMORROW, it is forecast for cloudy skies with a high near 40 degrees. The wind will be from the NW at 10 to 20 mph.
_________________________________

ON THIS DAY

In Montgomery, Alabama on December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks is jailed for refusing to give up her seat on a public bus to a white man, a violation of the city’s racial segregation laws. The successful Montgomery Bus Boycott, organized by a young Baptist minister named Martin Luther King, Jr., followed Park’s historic act of civil disobedience.
“The mother of the civil rights movement,” as Rosa Parks is known, was born in Tuskegee, Alabama, in 1913. She worked as a seamstress and in 1943 joined the Montgomery chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
According to a Montgomery city ordinance in 1955, African Americans were required to sit at the back of public buses and were also obligated to give up those seats to white riders if the front of the bus filled up. Parks was in the first row of the Black section when the white driver demanded that she give up her seat to a white man. Parks’ refusal was spontaneous but was not merely brought on by her tired feet, as is the popular legend. In fact, local civil rights leaders had been planning a challenge to Montgomery’s racist bus laws for several months, and Parks had been privy to this discussion.
Learning of Parks’ arrest, the NAACP and other African American activists immediately called for a bus boycott to be held by Black citizens on Monday, December 5. Word was spread by fliers, and activists formed the Montgomery Improvement Association to organize the protest. The first day of the bus boycott was a great success, and that night the 26-year-old Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., told a large crowd gathered at a church, “The great glory of American democracy is the right to protest for right.” King emerged as the leader of the bus boycott and received numerous death threats from opponents of integration. At one point, his home was bombed, but he and his family escaped bodily harm.
The boycott stretched on for more than a year, and participants carpooled or walked miles to work and school when no other means were possible. As African Americans previously constituted 70 percent of the Montgomery bus ridership, the municipal transit system suffered gravely during the boycott. On November 13, 1956, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Alabama state and Montgomery city bus segregation laws as being in violation of the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. On December 20, King issued the following statement: “The year old protest against city buses is officially called off, and the Negro citizens of Montgomery are urged to return to the buses tomorrow morning on a non-segregated basis.” The boycott ended the next day. Rosa Parks was among the first to ride the newly desegregated buses.
Martin Luther King, Jr., and his nonviolent civil rights movement had won its first great victory. There would be many more to come.

Rosa Parks died on October 24, 2005. Three days later the U.S. Senate passed a resolution to honor Parks by allowing her body to lie in honor in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.

Also, ON THIS DAY: As no presidential candidate had received a majority of the total electoral votes in the election of 1824, Congress decides to turn over the presidential election to the House of Representatives, as dictated by the 12th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
In the November 1824 election, 131 electoral votes, just over half of the 261 total, were necessary to elect a candidate president. Although it had no bearing on the outcome of the election, popular votes were counted for the first time in this election. On December 1, 1824, the results were announced. Andrew Jackson of Tennessee won 99 electoral and 153,544 popular votes; John Quincy Adams—the son of John Adams, the second president of the United States—received 84 electoral and 108,740 popular votes; Secretary of State William H. Crawford, who had suffered a stroke before the election, received 41 electoral votes; and Representative Henry Clay of Kentucky won 37 electoral votes.
As dictated by the Constitution, the election was then turned over to the House of Representatives. The 12th Amendment states that if no electoral majority is won, only the three candidates who receive the most popular votes will be considered in the House. Representative Henry Clay, who was disqualified from the House vote as a fourth-place candidate, agreed to use his influence to have John Quincy Adams elected. Clay and Adams were both members of a loose coalition in Congress that by 1828 became known as the National Republicans, while Jackson’s supporters were later organized into the Democratic Party.
Thanks to Clay’s backing, on February 9, 1825, the House elected Adams as president of the United States. When Adams then appointed Clay to the top cabinet post of secretary of state, Jackson and his supporters derided the appointment as the fulfillment of a corrupt agreement.
With little popular support, Adams’ time in the White House was largely ineffectual, and the so-called Corrupt Bargain haunted his administration. In 1828, he was defeated in his reelection bid by Andrew Jackson, who received more than twice as many electoral votes than Adams.
____________________________

WORD OF THE DAY

derrick; noun; (DAIR-ik)

What It Means

A derrick is a tall framework over an oil well that supports equipment used in drilling.

// Areas of the desert have become fields of oil derricks.

Examples

"Oil derricks dot the coastline, often scattered in between residential and shopping centers with views of the ocean." — The Examiner (Washington, D.C.), 22 Oct. 2021

Did You Know?

During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, London was the home of a notorious executioner named Derick. Among those he beheaded was the Earl of Essex, Robert Devereux, who supposedly had once saved the life of the ungrateful executioner. While members of the nobility were accorded the courtesy of beheading, it was the lot of commoners to be hanged, and those sent to face the rope at the hands of the executioner Derick nicknamed the gallows after him. Today, derrick is commonly used for a framework, but one that supports equipment used in drilling for oil.

(from Merriam Webster and history dot com)

(RESCHEDULED)
 ST JAMES TOWNSHIP REGULAR BOARD MEETING

Wednesday December 8, 2021 5:30 pm
St. James Township Hall
37735 Michigan Avenue
Beaver Island

Weather by Joe

November 30, 2021

Good morning from Beaver Island ! At 6:45 a.m. on Carlisle Road, it is 34 degrees with humidity at 99%. The wind is from the W at 2 mph. the pressure is 29.87. It is cloudy, and visibility is at ten miles.

TODAY, it is expected to have a few flurries this morning with mostly cloudy skies. Chance of snow is 30%. The high will be in the middle 30's. The wind will be from the WSW at 10 to 15 mph.

TONIGHT, it is forecast for mostly cloudy skies with a low in the upper 20's. The wind will be from the WNW at 10 to 20 mph.

TOMORROW, it is forecast for overcast skies with rain. Chance of rain is 60%. The high will be in the 40's. The wind will be from the SW at 10 to 20 mph
__________________________________

ON THIS DAY

On November 30, 1876, Yale defeats Princeton, 2-0, in Hoboken, New Jersey in the first collegiate football game played on Thanksgiving. Nearly 1,000 fans attend the game, played in cold, rainy weather. "The friends of both colleges mustered in good force," the New York Times reports. "Several carriages containing ladies were on the ground, and a goodly number of Alumni were there to cheer the contestants."
The football was oval and made of leather, the Times noted, "similar to those used in Rugby Union rules." The game resembled rugby more than a present-day football game.
Playing conditions were not ideal. "[T]he ground was so hard that terrific thumps and bruises were the rule and not the exception," the New York Daily Herald reported. But each team was superbly outfitted.
"The Yale team wore blue skullcaps, shirts, stockings of the same color and white flannel trowsers," the Daily Herald reported. "The Princeton lads were gorgeous in their orange and black uniforms."
Play became ragged, with the game reportedly resembling Greco-Roman wrestling. Perhaps the first example of college football trash talk was noted by the Daily Herald. "Just wait awhile, and we will show these fellows something," a Princeton player was quoted.
The Yale-Princeton Thanksgiving game started a collegiate tradition. Later in the 19th century, the universities of Kansas, Missouri, Michigan and others began playing football on the holiday.

On November 6, 1869, a little more than four years after the end of the Civil War, Rutgers defeated Princeton, 6-4, in the first college football game.

Also, ON THIS DAY: Samuel Clemens, later known as Mark Twain, is born in Florida, Missouri, on November 30, 1835.
Clemens was apprenticed to a printer at age 13 and later worked for his older brother, who established the Hannibal Journal. In 1857, the Keokuk Daily Post commissioned him to write a series of comic travel letters, but after writing five he decided to become a steamboat captain instead. He signed on as a pilot’s apprentice in 1857 and received his pilot’s license in 1859, when he was 23.
Clemens piloted boats for two years, until the Civil War halted steamboat traffic. During his time as a pilot, he picked up the term “Mark Twain,” a boatman’s call noting that the river was only two fathoms deep, the minimum depth for safe navigation. When Clemens returned to writing in 1861, working for the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise, he wrote a humorous travel letter signed by “Mark Twain” and continued to use the pseudonym for nearly 50 years.
In 1864, he moved to San Francisco to work as a reporter. There, he wrote the story that made him famous: "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County."
In 1866, he traveled to Hawaii as a correspondent for the Sacramento Union. Next, he traveled the world writing accounts for papers in California and New York, which he later published the popular book The Innocents Abroad (1869). In 1870, Clemens married the daughter of a wealthy New York coal merchant and settled in Hartford, Connecticut, where he continued to write travel accounts and lecture. In 1875, his novel Tom Sawyer was published, followed by Life on the Mississippi (1883) and his masterpiece Huckleberry Finn (1885). Bad investments left Clemens bankrupt after the publication of Huckleberry Finn, but he won back his financial standing with his next three books–Pudd’Nhead Wilson (1894), Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc (1895), and Following the Equator (1897). In 1903, he and his family moved to Italy, where his wife died. Her death left him sad and bitter, and his work, while still humorous, grew distinctly darker. He died in 1910.
_______________________

WORD OF THE DAY

hoity-toity; adjective; (hoy-tee-TOY-tee)

Hoity-toity means "pretentious, fancy, or pompous."

// The guidance counselor emphasized that students do not need to go to a hoity-toity college to achieve success.

Examples

"[Daniel Heider] says his post-high-school years were difficult. … 'I felt like I was at a disadvantage because everybody in DC is interning with a great congressman or is going to law school or is going to med school, and everybody's super hoity-toity and super important….'" — The Washingtonian, April 2021

Did You Know?

Hoity-toity is believed to have been created as a rhyme based on the dialectal English word hoit, meaning "to play the fool." Hoity-toity can mean "foolish" (e.g., "… as though it were very hoity-toity of me not to know that royal personage." — W. Somerset Maugham, The Razor’s Edge), but it is most often used to mean "pretentious."

(from Merriam Webster and history dot com)

Great Lakes Island Basketball Tournament

The 3rd Annual Great Lakes Islands High School Basketball Tournament is live on the WPIB YouTube Channel Friday at 11:30 am EST. Here's the link to the games.

and Tournament Schedule

Friday, December 3rd
11:45 am Boys – Mackinac Island v Washington Island
1:00 pm Girls – Put-in-Bay v Beaver Island
2:15 pm Boys – Beaver Island v Mackinac Island
3:30pm Boys – Washington Island v Put-in-Bay
6:30 pm. Boys – Put-in-Bay v Beaver Island
Saturday December 4th
8:30 am Boys – Washington Island v Beaver Island
9:45 am Girls – Beaver Island v Mackinac Island
10:30 am Boys – Put-in-Bay v Mackinac Island
12:00 pm Girls – Put-in-Bay v Mackinac Island

Health Department of Northwest Michigan COVID-19 Update 

New COVID-19 variant identified World Health Organization 

No cases in US but prevention urged 

On November 26, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified a new variant, B.1.1.529, as a “Variant of Concern.” Named Omicron, no cases of this variant have been identified in the U.S. to date. The new strain is causing health officials to urge residents to use precautionary measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is following the details of this new variant, first reported to the WHO by South Africa. CDC officials expressed gratitude to the South African government and its scientists who have openly communicated with the global scientific community and continue to share information about this variant with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and CDC.  

“We know what it takes to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” said Dr. Josh Meyerson, Medical Director for the Health Department of Northwest Michigan. “Regardless of the strain, we all need to take preventative measures to stop the spread of this disease and keep ourselves, our families, and our communities safe.” 

The health department, as well as the CDC recommends people follow prevention strategies such as wearing a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high community transmission, washing your hands frequently, and physically distancing from others. CDC also recommends that everyone 5 years and older protect themselves from COVID-19 by getting fully vaccinated. CDC encourages a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose for all those who are eligible. 

Travelers to the U.S. should continue to follow CDC recommendations for traveling. 

For a list of vaccine providers and locations in Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet and Otsego counties, click here. To schedule an appointment with the Health Department of Northwest Michigan exclusively for children 5 to 11 years old, click here. To schedule an appointment with the health department for anyone 12 and older, click here. A parent/guardian must accompany anyone younger than 18 to a COVID-19 clinic. Please bring an insurance card to the appointment. Anyone with questions or unable to find a time or date that works for them and/or their child may call the health department at 800-432-4121. 

To find a test site in the area, visit http://www.nwhealth.org/covid19main.html. 

Stay up to date on the latest information in the Health Department of Northwest Michigan jurisdiction by liking and following our Facebook page and visiting our COVID-19 Data Dashboard. To locate a testing facility, visit the Michigan COVID-19 Test Finder website. To track the risk levels of COVID-19 pandemic indicators, visit the MI Safe Start Map website. For more information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, visit the MDHHS vaccine website or the CDC vaccine website.

LAUREL JOHNSON, M.Ed, CHES

Community Health Coordinator, Public Information Officer

3434 M-119, Suite A, Harbor Springs, MI 49740

Office: 231-347-5628 

www.nwhealth.org

View the COVID Counts in the NWM Health Department Counties HERE

Church Services, 11/28/21

Mass from Holy Cross

Father Peter Wigton was the celebrant

Joan Banville was the reader

The lighting of the Advent Candle

View video of the Mass HERE

Service at the B.I. Christian Church

The bulletin

Advent Song

Pastor Martin.......Judi Meister did announcements and played a Prelude

Kathy and Rick Speck did the lighting of the Advent Candle

Pastor Martin did the old testament reading....Sue Oole did the new testatment reading

View video of the service HERE

BITA Public Transportation Meeting

From Charlevoix County COA

November 29, 2021

Good Morning,

Just a note to keep you up to date on what is going on with the COA and to respond to requests for more information.  Please find attached the December 2021 Senior Hi-Lites Newsletter.  Should you have ANY questions about program requirements or qualifications, please contact Lonnie our Site Coordinator on Beaver Island or Sheri Shepard in the COA Office. 

We have had no one this month express interest in the Wellness Check program partnered with the Sheriff’s Department this month.

I just wanted to update you as to where we are here at the beginning of December regarding the Senior Centers in Charlevoix County.

We will continue to proceed out of an abundance of caution. We are going to keep all of our Senior Centers CLOSED to the public until the CDC and Health Department Numbers are back to safer levels.

We are still providing all of our services, just differently. I will be reviewing the CDC and Health Department numbers and levels each week to determine a new reopening timeline and keep you updated when we are closer to a more reasonable date.  Please see find attached our menu for September as meals can be picked up curbside.

We are so excited to share that each of our Senior Centers in Boyne, Charlevoix and East Jordan have added in person activity in the morning and in the afternoon. This is in addition to all of our other services we are currently providing....differently.

ALL of these scheduled activities REQUIRE preregistering with the Site Coordinator at the location and at this time, are FREE of charge and all those who CHOOSE to participate in these activities must wear a face mask covering your nose and mouth as we are still at a HIGH rate of transmission for COVID-19.

If you do not want to wear a mask, please be patient and wait until we are able to open our senior centers fully to participate.

We are comfortable offering these options to combat the feelings of isolation and loneliness as there is now a Vaccine available and treatments for COVID -19 should you CHOOSE to access them.

Our BI Office will be open by appointment only and masks will be required.

Volunteer services will be suspended at this time until the numbers get to a safer level.

Please be patient, kind and support our staff so that we can continue to support you with our services by staying healthy.

Please call your Site Coordinator for the most current information.

Meals and Activities are all subject to change due to the current COVID19 Pandemic numbers, statistics and protective measures for our aging adults and staff.

Please do not come to the Senior Center or offices if you are sick, this includes curbside pick up.  The impact of a sick individual in our centers could shut down services if our staff gets sick and are unable to provide those services.  You can still be sick and spread the COVID19 virus if you are vaccinated.

Please print our Calendars, “Like” our Facebook Page “Charlevoix County Commission on Aging”, follow us on Instagram “Charlevoixcountycoa” and look all the other goings on either on the Senior Hi-Lites Newsletter page or the Menus / Calendars and Activities pages of our website at www.charlevoixcounty/Commission_on_Aging .

Beaver Island COA Office Updates:

The BI COA Office is located at 26466 Donegal Bay Rd will now be open daily with new protocols in place for the safety of those visiting and our staff.  The phone number is 231-448-2124. 

Meal Voucher Program update:

Nutritional Program Participation for the following locations has been approved by the Charlevoix County Commissioners

The Bodega – Has expressed interest in our program and are reviewing the process.

As a reminder, only Charlevoix County Tax paying residence are allowed to participate in the BI Voucher Meal Program because the taxes that are paid by you and should be used by you.  A big thank you to our participating restaurants who immediately notified us of a couple who fraudulently got vouchers.  This allowed us to make no more were issued.  Please continue to discourage this kind of behavior from your visitors. 

Amy Wieland

Executive Director

Charlevoix County Commission on Aging

Work Phone: 231-237-0103

Email: wielanda@charlevoixcounty.org

Address: 13513 Division Street, Charlevoix, MI  49720

Changing what aging looks like and feels like in Charlevoix County!

View/download Sernior Highlights HERE

From the B. I. Historical Society

November 29, 2021

We are finally ready to move forward on restoration and preservation of the Beaver Head Lighthouse! Please join us as we begin this exciting project! You can make a difference by donating today to Beaver Island Historical Society.

The Beaver Island Historical Society, in collaboration with Charlevoix County and Networks Northwest, is fundraising to bring a group of historical preservation experts to the island in the summer of 2022. Eastern Michigan University's Historic Preservation Graduate Field School will assess the preservation needs of our Beaver Head Lighthouse--the third oldest on the Great Lakes.

Our vision is for the lighthouse to be restored and sustainable. We have many ideas for public access including a museum in the Keeper's House attached to the lighthouse.

All funds collected will be used to help graduate students with lodging, travel, and preservation supplies needed to complete their work.

Eastern Michigan University’s Historic Preservation Program (EMU HPP) conducts an annual one-week, hands-on field school with about twenty students, two faculty members, and a field school managers assist in the preservation and/or restoration of an historic structure or its contents. The Field School introduces a variety of preservation and restoration techniques such as masonry, plastering, painting, cataloguing of artifacts, documenting the historic structure, and much more. For more information about the program visit: https://www.emich.edu/geography-geology ... glance.php

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help offset the costs to host a Preservation Field School at the Beaver Head Lighthouse. https://gofund.me/281915b7

To learn more about the Beaver Island Historical Society's mission to Preserve and Share the Unique History of the Archipelago please visit https://www.beaverislandhistory.org/

Lori Taylor-Blitz, Executive Director
Beaver Island Historical Society
PO Box 263
Beaver Island MI 49782
bihistory@tds.net
231.448.2254

BI Christian Church Cookie Carnival

BI Christian Church Newsletter, December 2021

St. James Township Planning Commission Meeting


November 30, 2021, 6:00 PM

SJT_Planning Commission 113021 Agenda

SJT Planning Commission_10112021.Minutes

Weather by Joe

November 29, 2021

Good morning from Beaver Island! Right now on Carlisle Road at 7:30 a.m., it is 30 degrees with no wind. The humidity is at 90%. The pressure is 29.95. It is cloudy with visibility at ten miles.

TODAY, it is expected to be cloudy with a few flurries possible The temperature should remain in the 30's. Wind will be from the SW at 5 to 10 mph.

TONIGHT, it is forecast for variably cloudy with snow showers. Chance of snow is 60%. The low will be near freezing. Winds will be light and variable.

TOMORROW, it is forecast for possible snow flurries with high in the middle to upper 30's. The wind will be from the WNW at 10 to 20 mph.
____________________

ON THIS DAY

On November 29, 1864, peaceful band of Southern Cheyenne and Arapahoe Native Americans are massacred by Colonel John Chivington’s Colorado volunteers at Sand Creek, Colorado.
The causes of the Sand Creek massacre were rooted in the long conflict for control of the Great Plains of eastern Colorado. The Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851 guaranteed ownership of the area north of the Arkansas River to the Nebraska border to the Cheyenne and Arapahoe. However, by the end of the decade, waves of Euro-American miners flooded across the region in search of gold in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, placing extreme pressure on the resources of the arid plains. By 1861, tensions between new settlers and Native Americans were rising.
On February 8 of that year, a Cheyenne delegation, headed by Chief Black Kettle, along with some Arapahoe leaders, accepted a new settlement with the Federal government. The Native Americans ceded most of their land but secured a 600-square mile reservation and annuity payments. The delegation reasoned that continued hostilities would jeopardize their bargaining power. In the decentralized political world of the tribes, Black Kettle and his fellow delegates represented only part of the Cheyenne and Arapahoe tribes. Many did not accept this new agreement, called the Treaty of Fort Wise.
The new reservation and Federal payments proved unable to sustain the tribes. During the Civil War, tensions again rose and sporadic violence broke out between Anglos and Native Americans. In June 1864, John Evans, governor of the territory of Colorado, attempted to isolate recalcitrant Native Americans by inviting “friendly Indians” to camp near military forts and receive provisions and protection. He also called for volunteers to fill the military void left when most of the regular army troops in Colorado were sent to other areas during the Civil War.
In August 1864, Evans met with Black Kettle and several other chiefs to forge a new peace, and all parties left satisfied. Black Kettle moved his band to Fort Lyon, Colorado, where the commanding officer encouraged him to hunt near Sand Creek. In what can only be considered an act of treachery, Chivington moved his troops to the plains, and on November 29, they attacked the unsuspecting Native Americans, scattering men, women, and children and hunting them down. The casualties reflect the one-sided nature of the fight. Nine of Chivington’s men were killed; 148 of Black Kettle’s followers were slaughtered, more than half of them women and children. The Colorado volunteers returned and killed the wounded, mutilated the bodies, and set fire to the village.

The atrocities committed by the soldiers were initially praised, but then condemned as the circumstances of the massacre emerged. Chivington resigned from the military and aborted his budding political career. Black Kettle survived and continued his peace efforts. In 1865, his followers accepted a new reservation in Indian Territory.

Also, ON THIS DAY: On November 29, 1942, coffee joins the list of items rationed in the United States. Despite record coffee production in Latin American countries, the growing demand for the bean from both military and civilian sources, and the demands placed on shipping, which was needed for other purposes, required the limiting of its availability.
Scarcity or shortages were rarely the reason for rationing during the war. Rationing was generally employed for two reasons: (1) to guarantee a fair distribution of resources and foodstuffs to all citizens; and (2) to give priority to military use for certain raw materials, given the present emergency.
At first, limiting the use of certain products was voluntary. For example, President Roosevelt launched “scrap drives” to scare up throwaway rubber-old garden hoses, tires, bathing caps, etc.–in light of the Japanese capture of the Dutch East Indies, a source of rubber for the United States. Collections were then redeemed at gas stations for a penny a pound. Patriotism and the desire to aid the war effort were enough in the early days of the war.
But as U.S. shipping, including oil tankers, became increasingly vulnerable to German U-boat attacks, gas became the first resource to be rationed. Starting in May 1942, in 17 eastern states, car owners were restricted to three gallons of gas a week. By the end of the year, gas rationing extended to the rest of the country, requiring drivers to paste ration stamps onto the windshields of their cars. Butter was another item rationed, as supplies were reserved for military breakfasts. Along with coffee, the sugar and milk that went with it were also limited. All together, about one-third of all food commonly consumed by civilians was rationed at one time or another during the war. The black market, an underground source of rationed goods at prices higher than the ceilings set by the Office of Price Administration, was a supply source for those Americans with the disposable incomes needed to pay the inflated prices.
Some items came off the rationing list early; coffee was released as early as July 1943, but sugar was rationed until June 1947.
_______________________________________
WORD OF THE DAY

obfuscate; verb; (AHB-fuh-skayt)

Obfuscate means "to make difficult to understand" or "to be evasive, unclear, or confusing."
// The coach obfuscated his response as to whether he would retire at the end of the season.

// When asked about the lawsuit alleging plagiarism, the singer obfuscated.

Examples

"Intelligence officials operate in an increasingly difficult environment, in which bad actors are deploying sophisticated technology to obfuscate their activities…." — Will Hurd, The Dallas Morning News, 8 Sept. 2021

Did You Know?

Obfuscate comes from the Latin prefix ob- (meaning "over" or "completely") and fuscus ("dark-colored"). That fact gives an idea as to how the word can refer to making something difficult to see or understand—much like how dark, dirty water makes it hard to see the bottom.

(from Merriam Webster and history dot com)

Memory

by Cindy Ricksgers

Weather by Joe

November 28, 2021

Good morning from Beaver Island! This morning at 6:45 a.m., it is 32 degrees with no wind. The humidity is at 99%. The pressure is 29.67. It is cloudy with visibility at 2.8 miles.

TODAY, it is expected to have snow showers on and off, especially this morning. Chance of snow is 80%. The high will be in the low 30's most of the day. The wind will be from the NW at 10 to 20 mph.

TONIGHT, it is forecast for a few flurries. The low will be in the upper 20;s. The wind will continue from the NW at 10 to 15 mph.

TOMORROW, it is forecast for cloudy skies with periods of snow in the afternoon. Chance of snow is 70%. The wind will switch to th SW at 10 to 15 mph. The high will be in the middle 30's.
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ON THIS DAY

After sailing through the dangerous straits below South America that now bear his name, Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan enters the Pacific Ocean with three ships, becoming the first European explorer to reach the Pacific from the Atlantic.
On September 20, 1519, Magellan set sail from Spain in an effort to find a western sea route to the rich Spice Islands of Indonesia. In command of five ships and 270 men, Magellan sailed to West Africa and then to Brazil, where he searched the South American coast for a strait that would take him to the Pacific. He searched the Rio de la Plata, a large estuary south of Brazil, for a way through; failing, he continued south along the coast of Patagonia. At the end of March 1520, the expedition set up winter quarters at Port St. Julian. On Easter day at midnight, the Spanish captains mutinied against their Portuguese captain, but Magellan crushed the revolt, executing one of the captains and leaving another ashore when his ship left St. Julian in August.
On October 21, he finally discovered the strait he had been seeking. The Strait of Magellan, as it became known, is located near the tip of South America, separating Tierra del Fuego and the continental mainland. Only three ships entered the passage; one had been wrecked and another deserted. It took 38 days to navigate the treacherous strait, and when ocean was sighted at the other end Magellan wept with joy. His fleet accomplished the westward crossing of the ocean in 99 days, crossing waters so strangely calm that the ocean was named “Pacific,” from the Latin word pacificus, meaning “tranquil.” By the end, the men were out of food and chewed the leather parts of their gear to keep themselves alive. On March 6, 1521, the expedition landed at the island of Guam.
Ten days later, they dropped anchor at the Philippine island of Cebu—they were only about 400 miles from the Spice Islands. Magellan met with the chief of Cebu, who after converting to Christianity persuaded the Europeans to assist him in conquering a rival tribe on the neighboring island of Mactan. In fighting on April 27, Magellan was hit by a poisoned arrow and left to die by his retreating comrades.

After Magellan’s death, the survivors, in two ships, sailed on to the Moluccas and loaded the hulls with spice. One ship attempted, unsuccessfully, to return across the Pacific. The other ship, the Vittoria, continued west under the command of Basque navigator Juan Sebastian de Elcano. The vessel sailed across the Indian Ocean, rounded the Cape of Good Hope, and arrived at the Spanish port of Sanlucar de Barrameda on September 6, 1522, becoming the first ship to circumnavigate the globe.

Also, ON THIS DAY: The Grand Ole Opry, one of the longest-lived and most popular showcases for western music, begins broadcasting live from Nashville, Tennessee on November 28, 1925. The showcase was originally named the Barn Dance, after a Chicago radio program called the National Barn Dance that had begun broadcasting the previous year.
Impressed by the popularity of the Chicago-based National Barn Dance, producers at WSM radio in Nashville decided to create their own version of the show to cater to southern audiences who could not receive the Chicago signal. Both the Grand Ole Opry and the National Barn Dance aired on Saturday nights and featured folk music, fiddling, and the relatively new genre of country-western music. Both shows created a growing audience for a uniquely American style of music and were launching grounds for many of America’s most-loved musicians–the singing cowboy Gene Autry got his first big break on the National Barn Dance. The WSM producers recognized that Americans were growing nostalgic for the rural past, so all live performers at the Grand Ole Opry were required to dress in period costumes and adopt old-time names.
The four-and-a-half-hour Grand Ole Opry program became one of the most popular broadcasts in the South, and like its Chicago cousin, helped make country-western an enduring part of the popular American musical landscape.
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WORD OF THE DAY

menorah; noun; (muh-NOR-uh)

What It Means

A menorah is a candelabra with seven or nine lights that is used in Jewish worship.

// At sundown on the first night of Hanukkah, Aaron's father helped him light the first candle on the menorah.

Examples

"The world's largest menorah went up in Manhattan on Tuesday and will be lit on Thursday after sundown…." — ABC7 (New York), 10 Dec. 2020

Did You Know?

In English, menorah was originally the name for the seven-branched candelabra used in Jewish worship. The nine-branched Hanukkah candelabra is called hanukkiah in Hebrew, but English speakers came to use menorah for this too. The Hanukkah menorah recalls expulsion by Judah Maccabee of invading forces from the Temple of Jerusalem. Maccabee and his followers sought oil for the temple's menorah so that the sanctuary could be rededicated, but they found only enough oil for a single day. Miraculously, that tiny amount of oil burned for eight days, until a new supply could be obtained. The Hanukkah menorah includes a candle for each day the oil burned, plus the shammes, a "servant candle" that is used to light the others.

(from Merriam Webster and history dot com)

From BI COA, December Sunday Dinner

November 27, 2021

Hello friends,

Why didn’t the turkey eat anything at Thanksgiving? The answer can be found at the end of this Sunday dinner announcement.
We had a great turnout for the Sunday dinner in November honoring veterans and their spouses. Remember all Sunday dinners are open to the public, unless otherwise noted.

In December, we will serve roasted pork tenderloin with mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetables, and cherry cobbler for dessert. Dinner is scheduled from 1-2:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 12, 2021, at the Beaver Island Community Center. Dinner is takeout only. Please call 231-448-2124 to RSVP for the meal. Dinner is a $6 charge for ages 12-under and 60 and older. Dinner is a $10 charge for ages 13-59. Please see menu attached to this post. Any questions about the Sunday Dinners can be directed to Lonnie Allen at 231-448-2124.

As 2021 wraps up, I would like to say I enjoy serving the aging community on Beaver Island. It is awesome to have such a vibrant group of people to advocate for and work with. Each of you are truly wonderful to many here on Beaver Island. I may not know much, though I do know it is a privilege to serve clients of the Commission on Aging and others in this community while having this great opportunity to call Beaver Island home for another year.

It is my hope that everyone will have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving in 2021 and beyond. The Charlevoix County Commission on Aging on Beaver Island is preparing to begin in person activities in December. Activity details are coming soon. Call 231-448-2124 for more information.

Joke: Why didn’t the turkey eat anything at Thanksgiving? Answer: Because it was already stuffed.

Grace and peace be with you,

Lonnie Allen
Site Coordinator, Beaver Island COA
Charlevoix County Beaver Island
Building coordinator/Maintenance assistant
(231) 448-2124
allenl@charlevoixcounty.org

Weather by Joe

November 27, 2021

Good morning from Beaver Island! Here on Carlisle Road at 7:30 a.m., it is 28 degrees with a 2 mph wind from the NW. The humidity is 92%. The pressure is 29.89. It is cloudy and visibility is ten miles.

TODAY, it is expected to have snow showers with a high in the middle 30's. Chance of snow is 70%. Winds will be from the SE at 5 to 10 mph. Accumulation of snow could be from 1 to 3 inches.

TONIGHT, it is forecast for snow showers with likely steady snow after midnight. The low will be near 30 degrees. The chance of snow is 80%. The winds will be from the SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Accumulation of snow is again listed as 1 to 3 inches.

TOMORROW, it is forecast for variable clouds and possible snow showers. Chance of snow is 70%. The high will be in the upper 30's. The wind will be from the NW at 10 to 20 mph. Snow accumulation should be less than an inch.
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ON THIS DAY

On November 27, 1095, Pope Urban II makes perhaps the most influential speech of the Middle Ages, giving rise to the Crusades by calling all Christians in Europe to war against Muslims in order to reclaim the Holy Land, with a cry of “Deus vult!” or “God wills it!”
Born Odo of Lagery in 1042, Urban was a protege of the great reformer Pope Gregory VII. Like Gregory, he made internal reform his main focus, railing against simony (the selling of church offices) and other clerical abuses prevalent during the Middle Ages. Urban showed himself to be an adept and powerful cleric, and when he was elected pope in 1088, he applied his statecraft to weakening support for his rivals, notably Clement III.
By the end of the 11th century, the Holy Land—the area now commonly referred to as the Middle East—had become a point of conflict for European Christians. Since the 6th century, Christians frequently made pilgrimages to the birthplace of their religion, but when the Seljuk Turks took control of Jerusalem, Christians were barred from the Holy City. When the Turks then threatened to invade the Byzantine Empire and take Constantinople, Byzantine Emperor Alexius I made a special appeal to Urban for help. This was not the first appeal of its kind, but it came at an important time for Urban. Wanting to reinforce the power of the papacy, Urban seized the opportunity to unite Christian Europe under him as he fought to take back the Holy Land from the Turks.
At the Council of Clermont, in France, at which several hundred clerics and noblemen gathered, Urban delivered a rousing speech summoning rich and poor alike to stop their in-fighting and embark on a righteous war to help their fellow Christians in the East and take back Jerusalem. Urban denigrated the Muslims, exaggerating stories of their anti-Christian acts, and promised absolution and remission of sins for all who died in the service of Christ.
Urban’s war cry caught fire, mobilizing clerics to drum up support throughout Europe for the crusade against the Muslims. All told, between 60,000 and 100,000 people responded to Urban’s call to march on Jerusalem. Not all who responded did so out of piety: European nobles were tempted by the prospect of increased land holdings and riches to be gained from the conquest. These nobles were responsible for the death of a great many innocents both on the way to and in the Holy Land, absorbing the riches and estates of those they conveniently deemed opponents to their cause. Adding to the death toll was the inexperience and lack of discipline of the Christian peasants against the trained, professional armies of the Muslims. As a result, the Christians were initially beaten back, and only through sheer force of numbers were they eventually able to triumph.
Urban died in 1099, two weeks after the fall of Jerusalem but before news of the Christian victory made it back to Europe. His was the first of seven major military campaigns fought over the next two centuries known as the Crusades, the bloody repercussions of which are still felt today. Urban was beatified by the Roman Catholic Church in 1881.
Also, ON THIS DAY: Without bothering to identify the village or do any reconnaissance, Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer leads an early morning attack on a band of peaceful Cheyenne living with Chief Black Kettle.
Convicted of desertion and mistreatment of soldiers earlier that year in a military court, the government had suspended Custer from rank and command for one year. Ten months into his punishment, in September 1868, General Philip Sheridan reinstated Custer to lead a campaign against Cheyenne Indians who had been making raids in Kansas and Oklahoma that summer. Sheridan was frustrated by the inability of his other officers to find and engage the enemy, and despite his poor record and unpopularity with the men of the 7th Cavalry, Custer was a good fighter.
Sheridan determined that a campaign in winter might prove more effective, since the Indians could be caught off guard while in their permanent camps. On November 26, Custer located a large village of Cheyenne encamped near the Washita River, just outside of present-day Cheyenne, Oklahoma. Custer did not attempt to identify which group of Cheyenne was in the village, or to make even a cursory reconnaissance of the situation. Had he done so, Custer would have discovered that they were peaceful people and the village was on reservation soil, where the commander of Fort Cobb had guaranteed them safety. There was even a white flag flying from one of the main dwellings, indicating that the tribe was actively avoiding conflict.
Having surrounded the village the night before, at dawn Custer called for the regimental band to play “Garry Owen,” which signaled for four columns of soldiers to charge into the sleeping village. Outnumbered and caught unaware, scores of Cheyenne were killed in the first 15 minutes of the “battle,” though a small number of the warriors managed to escape to the trees and return fire. Within a few hours, the village was destroyed—the soldiers had killed 103 Cheyenne, including the peaceful Black Kettle and many women and children.
Hailed as the first substantial American victory in the Indian wars, the Battle of the Washita helped to restore Custer’s reputation and succeeded in persuading many Cheyenne to move to the reservation. However, Custer’s habit of charging Native American encampments of unknown strength would eventually lead him to his death at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
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WORD OF THE DAY

commensurate; adjective; (kuh-MEN-suh-rut)

What It Means

Commensurate means "proportionate" or "equal in size, amount, or degree."
// The job posting states that salary will be commensurate with experience.

// The budget cuts of the community college are commensurate with other state-funded agencies and programs.

Examples

"Nationwide was originally founded in the 1920s as Farm Bureau Mutual Automobile Insurance Company with the idea of offering farmers automobile insurance that was more commensurate with their driving habits at a time when many were being charged similar rates to their counterparts in densely-populated urban areas." — Jason Bisnoff, Forbes, 29 Sept. 2021

Did You Know?

Commensurate comes from the Latin word for the act of measuring, mensūra. That noun is based on mensus, the past participle of the verb mētīrī," meaning "to determine the extent of."

(from Merriam Webster and history dot com)

BIC Church Sunday Flyer

for November 28, 2021

Township Airport Sky at Sunset

November 23, 2021

Joseph Dues Reed Sr, RIP

November 22, 2021

Obituary

Joseph Dues Reed Sr. was born to Doris and Samuel Reed in Dayton, Ohio. He would grow to live a life full of service to his country, community, and family. He meant so much to so many people. A man of strong character- he wore many hats throughout his 93 years.

 Joe was a Marine. After graduation from Miami of Ohio in 1950 he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. He would soon after be deployed to Korea where he served as the commander of an infantry platoon. During his time of service, he received many awards including Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart. After obtaining the rank of Major, Joe left The Marine Corps moving back to Ohio with his family.

Joe was a devoted husband- meeting the love of his life in 1st grade. He and Marilyn were married in 1950 spending 71 years exploring life together. Every time he told the story of their life, he would tear up. Marilyn was his everything: his constant support, his reason for staying strong through uncertain circumstances, and his best friend.

Joe was a brilliant businessman. In positions spanning 38 years with Ohio Bell and AT&T he became a senior corporate officer helping lead the company through a period of unparalleled change. After retiring in 1990 Joe was appointed to the Chicago school board and led a non-profit founded to engage the city’s business community in innovative school reform for the city.  His non-profit work also included service on the board of the Lyric Opera of Chicago.  Throughout his life he dedicated his boundless energy and peerless leadership skills to worthy civic initiatives and became heavily involved in every community he lived in.

Joe was an Islander. Officially retiring to Beaver Island in 1993. During Joe’s time in this beloved community, he became immersed in causes such as the Township Airport Committee, fundraising for the Rural Health Center, sponsorship of the St. James Tennis Courts, and founder of the BI Fit program. He loved Beaver Island and his friends here deeply. He could often be found on his moped running errands around town and socializing at McDonough’s Market. As Joe got older the Island surrounded him with love and support. The family cannot express their thanks enough for all of the people involved in dropping of meals, stopping by for conversations, plowing the driveways, running errands, and care giving.

Joe was a loving father of four, grandfather of eight, and great grandfather of eleven. He was strong and steady in his leadership of the family. He will fondly be remembered for his great hugs, joyous laugh, and his excited wave as he watched family arrive for summer visits. He had a deep love of sports often cheering on The OSU Buckeyes or the Chicago Cubs, and attending many games with his family. He could always be found in his office on a warm summer day with the screen door open and opera playing loudly as he worked. He loved debating politics with his children and grandchildren, with even the most intense conversation ending in laughter. He always had the most serious face while he led the 4th of July parade, until he saw his family, then he couldn’t help but smile with pride. Joe radiated his love for his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren to everyone he met and we are forever grateful to call him ours.

A memorial celebration will take place to honor Joe’s life in Summer 2022.

In lieu of flower the Reed family asks that donations be made to The Beaver Island Rural Health Center.

Semper Fi, Papa.

Arrangements have been handled by the Charlevoix Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes.

Weather by Joe

November 26, 2021

Good morning from Beaver Island! Not sure whether it was that chemical in the turkey or just the fullness of the meal last night, or the later than normal night watching an amazing movie, but sleeping in this morning until 8:30 a.m. was the result.

On Carlisle Road at this later time, it is 22 degrees with wind from the NNW at 4 mph. The humidity is 81%. The pressure is 30.06. The sky is cloudy with visibility of ten miles.

TODAY, it is expected to be overcast with a few flurries of snow possible. The high will be near 30 degrees. The wind will be from the NNW at 10 to 15 mph.

TONIGHT, it is forecast for partly cloudy skies with increasing clouds overnight. The low will be in the middle 20's. The winds will be light and variable.

TOMORROW, it is forecast for cloudy skies with snow in the afternoon. Chance of snow is 30%. The high will be in the middle 30's. The wind will be from the SE at 5 to 10 mph.
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ON THIS DAY
President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs a bill officially establishing the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day.
The tradition of celebrating the holiday on Thursday dates back to the early history of the Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay colonies, when post-harvest holidays were celebrated on the weekday regularly set aside as “Lecture Day,” a midweek church meeting where topical sermons were presented. A famous Thanksgiving observance occurred in the autumn of 1621, when Plymouth governor William Bradford invited local members of the Wampanoag tribe to join the Pilgrims in a festival held in gratitude for the bounty of the season.
Thanksgiving became an annual custom throughout New England in the 17th century, and in 1777 the Continental Congress declared the first national American Thanksgiving following the Patriot victory at Saratoga. In 1789, President George Washington became the first president to proclaim a Thanksgiving holiday, when, at the request of Congress, he proclaimed November 26, a Thursday, as a day of national thanksgiving for the U.S. Constitution. However, it was not until 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving to officially fall on the last Thursday of November, that the modern holiday was celebrated nationally.

With a few deviations, Lincoln’s precedent was followed annually by every subsequent president—until 1939. In 1939, Franklin D. Roosevelt departed from tradition by declaring November 23, the next to last Thursday that year, as Thanksgiving Day. Considerable controversy surrounded this deviation, and some Americans refused to honor Roosevelt’s declaration. For the next two years, Roosevelt repeated the unpopular proclamation, but on November 26, 1941, he admitted his mistake and signed a bill into law officially making the fourth Thursday in November the national holiday of Thanksgiving Day.

Also, ON THIS DAY: On November 26, 1862, Oxford mathematician Charles Lutwidge Dodgson sends a handwritten manuscript called Alice’s Adventures Under Ground to 10-year-old Alice Liddell.
The 30-year-old Dodgson, better known by his nom de plume Lewis Carroll, made up the story one day on a picnic with young Alice and her two sisters, the children of one of Dodgson’s colleagues. Dodgson, the son of a country parson, had been brilliant at both mathematics and wordplay since childhood, when he enjoyed making up games. However, he suffered from a severe stammer, except when he spoke with children. He had many young friends who enjoyed his fantastic stories: The Liddell children thought his tale of a girl who falls down a rabbit hole was one of his best efforts, and Alice insisted he write it down.
During a visit to the Liddells, English novelist Henry Kingsley happened to notice the manuscript. After reading it, he suggested to Mrs. Liddell that it be published. Dodgson published the book at his own expense, under the name Lewis Carroll, in 1865. The story is one of the earliest children’s books written simply to amuse children, not to teach them. The book’s sequel, Through the Looking Glass, was published in 1871. Dodgson’s other works, including a poetry collection called Phantasmagoria and Other Poems, and another children’s book, Sylvia and Bruno, did not gain the same enduring popularity as the Alice books. Dodgson died in 1898.
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WORD OF THE DAY

maître d'

noun; (may-truh-DEE)

What It Means
A maître d' (or maitre d') is the headwaiter of the dining-room staff of a restaurant or hotel.

// The maître d' ushered the celebrity couple to a private table at the back of the restaurant.

Examples

"Mike is part of a long-standing trio responsible for making Lucca's one of Helena's premier fine-dining establishments. … Rounding out the team is Ray Spooner, maître d', who not only greets and seats patrons but starts the evening off by eloquently describing the featured wines." — Donnie Sexton, The Billings (Montana) Gazette, 19 Oct. 2021

Did You Know?

Maître d' is short for maître d'hôtel, which comes from French and literally means "master of the house." Maître d'hôtel was used in English for a head butler or steward of a household before it referred to the head of a dining-room staff. For the record, the plural of maître d'hôtel is maîtres d'hôtel whereas the plural of maître d' is maître d's.

(from Merriam Webster and history dot com)

What Was This?

November 24, 2021

Pictures of this have been circulating since the water level seems to be headed down at Gull Harbor.  The question that came up in discussion is related to what this was and how did it get there.  It appears to be too long for a rusty car body, although no measurements were taken, just the view seems to suggest it's bigger than a frame for a car.  If you have any answers to help us figure this out, please email the following address:

medic5740@gmail.com

Covid Effects on Thanksgiving

November 25, 2021

Editorial by Joe Moore

This day on Beaver Island has always been my favorite holiday of the entire year.  The reasons for this are simple.  This was the day that I was able to attend and enjoy an Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service with members from all the church gatherings, together giving thanks to God for all the blessings of the prior year and an opportunity to praise and request blessings for the coming year.  That service usually took place on this day at 10 a.m.

Then, there would be football to watch for a bit before going to the Christian Church Gregg Fellowship Center to begin the work on the Community Thanksgiving Dinner.  Getting the previously peeled potatoes out to get them on the stove to cook for the mashed potatoes, and begin the carving of several turkeys for the dinner, putting this in the warmer and beginning work on the next turkey.  This work generally was a time for socializing as well as working.

Perhaps my favorite Thanksgiving of all times was working in the kitchen at the Beaver Island Christian Church with Don Meister.  On Thanksgiving, we would go over from the church to the parsonage to watch a little of the Lions versus Packer game.  Of course, we both cheered for opposite teams, but the chatting and the cheering was a great short break from the work in the kitchen of the church.

The whole Gregg and Moore families would gather at the Christian Church Community Thanksgiving Dinner and enjoy each other's company as well as socialize with those people who attended.  This tradition was put together many years ago to provide some location for those that would not be attending a family style dinner due to lack of family as well as for the visitors that had no family on the island to visit including usually some deer hunters.

For the last year and this year, COVID has basically killed my favorite holiday of the year!  No Ecumenical church service and no Community Thanksgiving Dinner due to the worries caused by this disease.

I hope that whatever is necessary to end this pandemic is done by all of the people that I know and care about here on the Island.  Please follow the guidelines by the CDC and the Northwest Michigan Health Department as well as Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, so that we may get our lives back to normal, and maybe next year have the return of my favorite day of the year!  Can we please get this done to be able to re-institute my favorite holiday of the entire year?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Weather by Joe

November 25, 2021

 

Good morning from Beaver Island and Happy Thanksgiving! Right now at 6:30 a.m. on Carlisle Road, it is 37 degrees with a SSE wind at 7 mph. The humidity is 94%. The pressure is 29.93. The sky is cloudy and visibility is ten miles.

TODAY, it is expected to have snow this morning and snow showers in the afternoon. The morning high near 40 will drop to 30 later in the afternoon. The chance of snow is given as 80%. The wind will be from the NNW at 10 to 20 mph. Accumulation of snow is expected to be less than an inch.

TONIGHT, it is forecast for mostly cloudy skies with a low in the lower 20's. Chance of snow is given as 40%. The wind will continue from the NNW at 10 to 20 mph.

TOMORROW, it is forecast for more of the same. The high will be near 30 degrees. There is a possibility of snow showers and the wind will continue from the NNW but decrease to 5 to 10 mph. The chance of snow is given as 15%.
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ON THIS DAY

“The Mousetrap,” a murder-mystery written by the novelist and playwright Agatha Christie, opens at the Ambassadors Theatre in London. The crowd-pleasing whodunit would go on to become the longest continuously running play in history.
When “The Mousetrap” premiered in 1952, Winston Churchill was British prime minister, Joseph Stalin was Soviet ruler and Harry Truman was president. Christie, already a hugely successful English mystery novelist, originally wrote the drama for Queen Mary, wife of the late King George V. Initially called “Three Blind Mice,” it debuted as a 30-minute radio play on the queen’s 80th birthday in 1947. Christie later extended the play and renamed it “The Mousetrap”—a reference to the play-within-a-play performed in William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.”
On November 25, 1952, 453 people took their seats in the Ambassadors Theatre for the London premiere of Christie’s “Mousetrap.” The drama is played out at “Monkswell Manor,” whose hosts and guests are snowed in among radio reports of a murderer on the loose. Soon a detective shows up on skis with the terrifying news that the murderer, and probably the next victim, are likely both among their number. Soon the clues and false leads pile as high as the snow. At every curtain call, the individual who has been revealed as the murderer steps forward and tells the audience that they are “partners in crime” and should “keep the secret of the whodunit locked in their heart.”
Richard Attenborough and his wife, Sheila Sim, were the first stars of “The Mousetrap.” To date, more than 300 actors and actresses have appeared in the roles of the eight characters. David Raven, who played “Major Metcalf” for 4,575 performances, is in the “Guinness Book of World Records” as the world’s most durable actor, while Nancy Seabrooke is noted as the world’s most patient understudy for 6,240 performances, or 15 years, as the substitute for “Mrs. Boyle.”
“The Mousetrap” is not considered Christie’s best play, and a prominent stage director once declared that “‘The Mousetrap'” should be abolished by an act of Parliament.” Nevertheless, the show’s popularity has not waned. Asked about its enduring appeal, Christie said, “It is the sort of play you can take anyone to. It is not really frightening. It is not really horrible. It is not really a farce, but it has a little bit of all these things, and perhaps that satisfies a lot of different people.” In 1974, after almost 9,000 shows, the play was moved to St. Martin’s Theatre, where it remained until March 2020, after which the COVID-19 pandemic suspended performances.

Agatha Christie, who wrote scores of best-selling mystery novels, died in 1976.

Also, ON THIS DAY: It was actually on November 26, 1789, tomorrow, that George Washington declares Thanksgiving a national holiday. The holiday originally celebrated the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It was not officially recognized by the government until 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed it a national holiday to be celebrated every year on the third Thursday of November.
______________________________

WORD OF THE DAY

jovial; adjective; (JOH-vee-ul)

What It Means

Jovial means "markedly good-humored" and describes people and things that are cheerful or full of joy.
// Andy remembered his Uncle Jim as a jovial man with a ready smile, a firm handshake, and a cheery greeting for all.

// Family reunions are a jovial occasion in which long-distance relatives reconnect and, of course, share amusing stories about each other.

Examples

"Still, part of the pleasure of dining at Margie's is ... its familial atmosphere. When Winston, a jovial seventeen-year-old senior at Far Rockaway High School, stopped to chat while clearing dishes, it was hard not to feel like a guest at an intergenerational dinner." — Jiayang Fan, The New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2021

Did You Know?

In Roman astrology, planets were named after gods, and people were thought to share the personality traits of the god whose planet was rising when they were born. Jupiter, also called Jove, was the chief Roman god and was considered a majestic type who was the source of joy and happiness. The Latin adjective jovialis means "of or relating to Jove." In French, this had become jovial, which English borrowed and used to describe people and things full of cheer or joy.

(from Merriam Webster and history dot com)

Weather by Joe

November 24, 2021

Good morning from Beaver Island! Right now at 7:15 a.m. here on Carlilse Road, it is 40 degrees with a wind from the W at 5 mph. The humidity is 90%. The pressure is 29.78. It is partly cloudy with visibility at ten miles.

TODAY, it is expected to be cloudy with a high of 47 degrees. The wind will be from the SSW at 10 to 20 mph.

TONIGHT, it is forecast for cloudy skies with a low just above freezing. Winds will switch to the WNW at 10 to 15 mph.

TOMORROW, it is forecast for rain and snow in the morning turning to snow in the afternoon. Chance of rain or snow is 50%. The morning temperature is be below 40 degrees, but will drop to below freezing during the day. Wind will be from the NNW at 10 to 20 mph.
___________________________

ON THIS DAY

On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, a groundbreaking scientific work by British naturalist Charles Darwin, is published in England on November 24, 1859. Darwin’s theory argued that organisms gradually evolve through a process he called “natural selection.” In natural selection, organisms with genetic variations that suit their environment tend to propagate more descendants than organisms of the same species that lack the variation, thus influencing the overall genetic makeup of the species.
Darwin, who was influenced by the work of French naturalist Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck and the English economist Thomas Malthus, acquired most of the evidence for his theory during a five-year surveying expedition aboard the HMS Beagle in the 1830s. Visiting such diverse places as the Galapagos Islands and New Zealand, Darwin acquired an intimate knowledge of the flora, fauna, and geology of many lands. This information, along with his studies in variation and interbreeding after returning to England, proved invaluable in the development of his theory of organic evolution.
The idea of organic evolution was not new. It had been suggested earlier by, among others, Darwin’s grandfather Erasmus Darwin, a distinguished English scientist, and Lamarck, who in the early 19th century drew the first evolutionary diagram—a ladder leading from one-celled organisms to man. However, it was not until Darwin that science presented a practical explanation for the phenomenon of evolution.
Darwin had formulated his theory of natural selection by 1844, but he was wary to reveal his thesis to the public because it so obviously contradicted the biblical account of creation. In 1858, with Darwin still remaining silent about his findings, the British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace independently published a paper that essentially summarized his theory. Darwin and Wallace gave a joint lecture on evolution before the Linnean Society of London in July 1858, and Darwin prepared On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection for publication.
Published on November 24, 1859, Origin of Species sold out immediately. Most scientists quickly embraced the theory that solved so many puzzles of biological science, but orthodox Christians condemned the work as heresy. Controversy over Darwin’s ideas deepened with the publication of The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex (1871), in which he presented evidence of man’s evolution from apes.

By the time of Darwin’s death in 1882, his theory of evolution was generally accepted. In honor of his scientific work, he was buried in Westminster Abbey beside kings, queens, and other illustrious figures from British history. Subsequent developments in genetics and molecular biology led to modifications in accepted evolutionary theory, but Darwin’s ideas remain central to the field.

Also, ON THIS DAY: On November 24, 1863, Union troops capture Lookout Mountain southwest of Chattanooga, Tennessee, as they begin to break the Confederate siege of the city. In the “battle above the clouds,” the Yankees scaled the slopes of the mountain on the periphery of the Chattanooga lines.
For nearly two months following the Battle of Chickamauga, the Confederates, commanded by General Braxton Bragg, had pinned the Union army inside Chattanooga. They were not able to surround the city, though, and occupied Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge to the south and east of the city instead. In late October, arriving to take command, Union General Ulysses S. Grant immediately began to form an offensive. On October 27, Union troops attacked Brown’s Ferry southwest of Chattanooga and opened the Tennessee River to boats that brought much needed supplies to the besieged Yankees.
On November 23, Grant began to attack the center of the lines around the city. Lookout Mountain lay on the Union’s far right, and the action there commenced on November 24. Yankee General Joseph Hooker commanded this wing, and his men advanced toward the fog-covered peak. Hooker did not plan to attack the entire mountain that day, thinking the granite crags would be difficult to overcome. The fog masked the Union advance, however, and Hooker’s men climbed relatively easily.
The Confederates had overestimated the advantages offered by the mountain, and 1,200 Rebels faced nearly 12,000 attacking Yankees. Artillery proved of little use, as the hill was so steep that the attackers could not even be seen until they appeared near the summit. Bragg did not send reinforcements because the Union attack against the Confederate center was more threatening than the sideshow around Lookout Mountain. The Confederates abandoned the mountain by late afternoon. The next day, Union forces launched a devastating attack against Missionary Ridge and successfully broke the Confederate lines around Chattanooga.
________________________

WORD OF THE DAY

feign; verb; (FAYN)

What It Means

Feign means "to give a false appearance of something."

// After her mom told her that she will bring her to the doctor's, Kim confessed that she was feigning illness because she forgot to finish her book report.

Examples

"For his part, Hopkins said Collins had surprised him the most this preseason, adding that he's never seen a 6-9 player who can do the things his fellow freshman can on the court. Hopkins … also didn't attempt to feign surprise when told that every single one of his teammates had mentioned him by name when asked the same question." — Ben Roberts, The Lexington (Kentucky) Herald Leader, 21 Oct. 2021

Did You Know?

Feign is all about faking it, but that hasn't always been so. An early meaning of the word is "to fashion, form, or shape." That meaning comes from its Latin source: the verb fingere. In time, people began fashioning feign to suggest the act of forming, or giving shape to, false appearances.

(from Merriam Webster and history dot com)

Island Transportation Update Meeting

December 1, 2021, at Noon

From BI COA

Hello friends,
The Charlevoix County Commission on Aging on Beaver Island plans to begin in person activities at the Beaver Island Community Center the week of December 13, 2021. These activities will be limited to a maximum of 10 people.
Wellness classes are being planned to begin the in-person activities. The two wellness classes are chair yoga and Tai-chi for seniors. Charlevoix County Commission on Aging on Beaver Island site coordinator Lonnie Allen will announce times and dates for the upcoming classes once details are finalized with the Beaver Island Community Center.
Charlevoix County residents ages 60 and older on Beaver Island may pick up meal vouchers to use at participating restaurants on Beaver Island. The meal voucher program is offered to island seniors because there is no senior center to receive nutritious lunches from Monday through Friday, as on the mainland. Currently, meal voucher participating businesses are Dalwhinnie, the Shamrock bar and restaurant and the Beaver Island Community School. C.O.A. meal vouchers may be picked up at the Beaver Island office. To learn more about the meal voucher program or to order meal vouchers please call 231-448-2124.


The December Commission on Aging dinner is scheduled from 1-2:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 12 at the Beaver Island Community Center. The menu includes roasted pork tenderloin, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetables, and baked cherry cobbler. Dinner is takeout only. Please call 231-448-2124 to RSVP for the meal. Dinner is a $6 charge for ages 12-under and 60 and older. Dinner is a $10 charge for ages 13-59. All questions about the Sunday Dinners can be directed to Lonnie Allen at 231-448-2124.


The Charlevoix County C.O.A. on Beaver Island office will be closed Thursday, December 23 and Friday, December 24, 2021. Office hours will resume on Monday, December 27.


There is a supplemental food program that offers food boxes to income qualifying Charlevoix County Commission on Aging clients. The commodity supplemental food program is a nutrition education program providing monthly supplemental foods to help promote health for people 60 years of age and older who meet income guidelines. For more information about this program people are asked to call the Northwest Community Action Agency at 231-775-8330.


To learn more about what the Charlevoix County Commission on Aging on Beaver Island offers, please call site coordinator Lonnie Allen at 231-448-2124. Office hours are still by appointment only.

5 Great Reasons to Give to GLIA!

Reason #1: Did you know? Since 2017, the Great Lakes Islands Alliance has been connecting islanders and amplifying their voices. As core functions, GLIA hosts robust Zoom discussions every month plus the annual Great Lakes Islands Summit. Our membership is now over 150 people from 18 different islands - the crown jewels of the Great Lakes!
Give Today!

Hello,

The Great Lakes Islands Alliance is undertaking our first-ever fundraising effort. Help us grow!

Our fundraising needs include:

  • Great Lakes Islands Summit: help us keep costs down!
  • GLIA staffing (salaries and travel): We would personally like to visit each of your islands, meet other important community leaders, and share your community with GLIA and our growing network. 
  • Projects: We'd like to support new projects identified by GLIA members to benefit your island schools, businesses, non-profits, governments, and citizens. 
  • Contracts / licenses: The cost of growth includes technology, consultants, and more.

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today by clicking the button below!

Thank you for your support, 

GLIA Steering Committee and Partners 

Donate to GLIA Today!

Fun Fact:

The typical (median) year-round population of our islands is 500 people, ranging from roughly 60 (Bois Blanc Island) to 13,255 (Manitoulin Island). Cumulatively, the population of the Great Lakes Islands is around 25,000! Thousands of additional people are summer residents or day visitors. That could be quite a voice!

More information: www.GLIAlliance.org or phuston@glialliance.org
 

"The Great Lakes Islands Alliance (GLIA) is supported by The Stewardship Network (TSN), an award-winning 501(c)3 non-profit organization. TSN is GLIA’s Fiscal Agent and provides fiduciary services on behalf of the Alliance. All contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law."

 

Grief and Bereavement

November 22, 2021

The presentation took place at the Gregg Fellowship Center, was arranged by the Beaver Island Rural Health Center, and was very informative and helpful.  The wonderful food was also not only delicious, but also excellent.  There were full sandwiches of either roast beef or veggies, homemade chicken noodle soup, a delicious salad with a homemade salad dressing; all of this was delicious.  Many thanks to Narhyn Johnson , the whole arrangement and decor was warm and embracing .The arrangement of the tables and chairs as well as the backdrop of the presentation location were professionally set up and organized.  Good job by all those involved in this program!

There was an equal number of viewers of the live stream by Beaver Island TV and Beaver Island News on the 'Net as there was in attendance.  Just under forty people were participating either in person or online viewing.  The presenter did an excellent job of including those present into his presentation and allowed the interactions and statements. 

David Behling, a "Spiritual Advisor and Bereavement Counselor," began the interactive presentation at about 6:15 p.m., and it lasted a little over an hour.  The input from the attendees was valuable to all those present or watching live. 

The backdrop for the presenter and his slides

David Behling

View pictures of the slides shown HERE

View video of the presentation HERE

Handouts:

Children and Grief

Critical Incident Stress Info

Grief A Normal Response to Loss

Grief at the Holidays

Grief Overload

Grieving, Most Profound Emotional Pain

SPECIAL ST JAMES TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING

Monday, November 22, 2021 12:00 pm

View video of the meeting HERE

Weather by Joe

November 23, 2021

Good morning form Beaver Island! This morning at 6:45 a.m., it is 27 degrees. Humidity is at 80%. There is no wind. The pressure is 30.07. The sky is cloudy and visibility is ten miles. We had a little over an eighth of an inch of moisture on the 21st.

TODAY, it is expected to have mixture of sunshine and clouds. The high will be near 40 degrees. The wind will be from the SW at 10 to 15 mph.

TONIGHT, it is forecast for a few clouds with a low in the upper 30's. The wind will be from the S at 10 to 20 mph.

TOMORROW, it is forecast for cloudy skies with a high in the upper 40's. The wind will be from the SSW at 15 to 25 mph.
_____________________

ON THIS DAY

On November 23, 1936, the first issue of the pictorial magazine Life is published, featuring a cover photo of the Fort Peck Dam's spillway by Margaret Bourke-White.
Life actually had its start earlier in the 20th century as a different kind of magazine: a weekly humor publication, not unlike today’s The New Yorker in its use of tart cartoons, humorous pieces and cultural reporting. When the original Life folded during the Great Depression, the influential American publisher Henry Luce bought the name and re-launched the magazine as a picture-based periodical on this day in 1936. By this time, Luce had already enjoyed great success as the publisher of Time, a weekly news magazine.
From his high school days, Luce was a newsman, serving with his friend Briton Hadden as managing editors of their school newspaper. This partnership continued through their college years at Yale University, where they acted as chairmen and managing editors of the Yale Daily News, as well as after college, when Luce joined Hadden at The Baltimore News in 1921. It was during this time that Luce and Hadden came up with the idea for Time. When it launched in 1923, it was with the intention of delivering the world’s news through the eyes of the people who made it.
Whereas the original mission of Time was to tell the news, the mission of Life was to show it. In the words of Luce himself, the magazine was meant to provide a way for the American people “to see life; to see the world; to eyewitness great events … to see things thousands of miles away… to see and be amazed; to see and be instructed… to see, and to show…” Luce set the tone of the magazine with Margaret Bourke-White’s stunning cover photograph of the spillway, which has since become an icon of the 1930s and the great public works completed under President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal.
Life was an overwhelming success in its first year of publication. Almost overnight, it changed the way people looked at the world by changing the way people could look at the world. Its flourish of images painted vivid pictures in the public mind, capturing the personal and the public, and putting it on display for the world to take in. At its peak, Life had a circulation of over 8 million and it exerted considerable influence on American life in the beginning and middle of the 20th century.

With picture-heavy content as the driving force behind its popularity, the magazine suffered as television became society’s predominant means of communication. Life ceased running as a weekly publication in 1972, when it began losing audience and advertising dollars to television. Between 2004-2007, however, it resumed weekly publication as a supplement to U.S. newspapers. Today much of its archive is viewable online.

Also, ON THIS DAY: Perkin Warbeck, who invaded England in 1497 claiming to be the lost son of King Edward IV, is hanged for allegedly trying to escape from the Tower of London.
Believed to be a native of Tournai in Belgium, Warbeck went to Ireland in 1491 and claimed he was Richard, duke of York, the second son of Edward IV. Richard and his elder brother were presumed murdered in the Tower of London by their uncle, King Richard III, in 1483. Warbeck found support from the enemies of King Henry VII, the first Tudor king of England, and in 1497 landed at Cornwall and raised an army of 6,000 men. Faced with King Henry’s larger army, he fled but was captured and imprisoned. In November 1499, he was executed.
Warbeck’s story was written by the Tudors—history’s victors—and it might never be known whether he was actually Richard of York or just a Flemish impostor.
__________________________

WORD OF THE DAY

enclave; noun; (EN-klayv)

What It Means

An enclave is an area inhabited by people who are different in some way from the people in the surrounding areas.

// The district includes an enclave in which students of the university reside.

Examples

"Harlem … was rapidly evolving; once a rural, village-like enclave for rich English, Dutch and French families, it had become desirable among city elites." — Sandra E. Garcia, The New York Times, 27 Oct. 2021

Did You Know?

Enclave comes from French enclaver, meaning "to enclose," which itself is based on the Latin noun clavis, meaning "key." Clavis opened the door to a few other English words, some of which might seem unlikely relatives of enclave. For example, clavicle, the word for the bone that joins the breastbone and the shoulder blade, and the musical sign clef.

(from Merriam Webster and history dot com)

Church Services 11/21/2021

Mass from Holy Cross

The Holy Cross Celebrant was Father Peter Wigton. The reader was Anne Partridge.

View video of the Mass HERE

Beaver Island Christian Church Service

Judi Meister did the announcements and played a Prelude

The Pastor...........Old Testament reader.....New Testament reader

View video of the service HERE

Michael Fleischman Perdue

December 5, 1977 ~ November 13, 2021 (age 43)

Obituary

Michael Fleischman Perdue, 43 of Gaylord, a loving father, husband, son, brother, grandson, cousin, nephew, uncle, good friend, teammate and coach to many, died tragically and too suddenly in a plane crash on his beloved Beaver Island, Michigan on November 13, 2021. Michael died holding and protecting his daughter Laney, the most precious gift he could ever have left for us.

Michael was born on December 5, 1977 in Spokane, WA.  Michael, or “Mike,” was a fighter from the beginning, as he was born premature and not expected to live. Through a miracle as defined by doctors, Mike began breathing on his own and grew into a tall, beautiful, and loving man.

Growing up in Traverse City, MI, Michael came from a tight-knit Catholic family. He constantly cracked jokes at the dinner table and made everyone laugh so hard they could hardly eat.  His humor was quiet but witty and right on point no matter who he was talking to. Michael loved all things baseball and hockey, and played both his whole childhood.  In high school he played on both the baseball and hockey teams at Traverse City Central High School, as pitcher and a defenseman, respectively.  His pitch was so fast and accurate that he received scholarships to college baseball teams, eventually joining two of his siblings and cousins at the University of Dallas in Texas, where he pitched for the UD Crusaders baseball team.  He is mourned deeply by his former coach and teammates, whom he had kept in close contact with over the years. 

Michael graduated from UD in 2001 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Politics. On October 2, 2004 Mike married the love of his life, Christie Heller, an island girl, on a windy day on Beaver Island and forever cemented his ties to his beloved Beaver Island. Together they built a beautiful life in Gaylord, MI where Mike joined forces with another Beaver Islander, Ryan Wojan, to purchase and build Smith Realty Group.  Mike’s ease with clients and his masterful ability to make connections between people in all facets of his life made him a great realtor and friend.

In 2010 Mike and Christie welcomed Laney Megan to the world, to be followed by Addie Haynes in 2013 and Henrik Heller and Bo Michael in 2019. Above all, he treasured his family and his children. He was their coach, their protector, their comedian, and their hero. Mike’s most treasured moments were on Beaver Island with his family, boating, watching sunsets, going for drives, and enjoying a slower pace of life. Later in his life he acquired a love for hunting and fishing, looking forward every fall to deer camp with his father-in-law and dear friend Karl Heller, the entire Heller family and friends.

One of Mike’s greatest joys in life was coaching and especially coaching his daughters in softball. He also coached the Gaylord High School Hockey Team and the Gaylord Varsity Baseball team. He was a very hands on father and was known and will be remembered for his big bear hugs.  He had a wink, a smile and occasionally a slight hip check as a greeting for all he knew and loved. Michael was a gentleman who loved his faith and strived every day to lead a life of honor. If ever there was a calming presence, it was his. 

Michael is survived by his treasured wife Christie, their four children Laney, Addie, Henrik and Bo, his parents Steve and Jane Perdue, sisters Jessica (George) Nicula, Amy (Joe) Ettawageshik, Kevin (Veronica) Perdue, Mary (Tom) Freundl, Katie (Neil) Smith, his mother-in-law Sue Heller Martin (Bob), father-in-law Karl Heller, sister-in-law Megan (James) Heller, and many beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, godchildren, and very dear friends.   

Michael was preceded in death by his grandparents Herb and Cecelia Fleischman, and William and Henrietta Perdue, infant brother Edward, brother in law Rick Fellows, uncles Tom Perdue and Oliver Muldoon and Rodney Janda and Dennis Janda, and cousin Robert Heller.  Words fall short of expressing the loving and immense impact Mike had on all those who knew him.  He was a hero in life and a hero in death, and he will never, ever be forgotten.  Rest in peace, dear Michael.  We know we will see you again. 

Visitation will take place from 2:00 - 6:00 PM Friday, December 10, 2021 at St. Mary Cathedral where the rosary will be recited at 6:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place 11:00 AM Saturday, December 11, 2021 at St. Mary Cathedral where visitation will begin at 10:00 AM.  Interment will take place on Beaver Island in the spring. In lieu of flowers, those who wish are asked to consider memorial contributions to support future needs of the kids at https://www.gofundme.com/f/prayers-for-perdues  or to Christina Perdue, through the funeral home, P.O. Box 249, Gaylord MI 49734. Please share your memories and personal messages with the family on the tribute wall. 

Services

Visitation
Friday
December 10, 2021
2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
St. Mary Cathedral
606 N. Ohio Avenue
Gaylord, MI 49735
Recitation of the Rosary
Friday
December 10, 2021
6:00 PM
St. Mary Cathedral
606 N. Ohio Avenue
Gaylord, MI 49735
Visitation
Saturday
December 11, 2021
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
St. Mary Cathedral
606 N. Ohio Avenue
Gaylord, MI 49735
Mass of Christian Burial
Saturday
December 11, 2021
11:00 AM
St. Mary Cathedral
606 N. Ohio Avenue
Gaylord, MI 49735

From the NW Michigan Health Department

Health Department: Take responsibility to help stop COVID-19 spread 

 November 22, 2021

Due to a rise in COVID-19 cases, increased hospitalizations and deaths, and the upcoming holidays, everyone should know the federal, state and local recommendations and take precautions to protect themselves, their families, and their loved ones. 

“Hospitals, health care providers, emergency medical systems, and public health organizations are seeing the strain on their systems due to the surge,” said Lisa Peacock, Health Officer with the Health Department of Northwest Michigan. “We cannot face this on our own. It is up to all of us to take action to help stem the rapid increase in cases across our region,” she said, adding cases, hospitalizations and deaths are reaching or surpassing the peak numbers experienced in April 2020. 

Those steps include: 

·        Get vaccinated. Whether you’re 5 or 95 or if it’s your first shot or a booster shot, vaccines are readily available. For a list of vaccine providers and locations in Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet and Otsego counties, click here. In addition, the CDC recently recommended anyone 18 and older should receive a booster vaccine. Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Some people may prefer the vaccine type they originally received, and others may prefer to get a different type of booster vaccine. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots. Individuals should consult their healthcare provider if there is a question which vaccine is appropriate for them. To schedule an appointment with the Health Department of Northwest Michigan exclusively for children 5 to 11 years old, click here. To schedule an appointment with the health department for anyone 12 and older, click here. A parent/guardian must accompany anyone younger than 18 to a COVID-19 clinic. Please bring an insurance card to the appointment. Anyone with questions or unable to find a time or date that works for them and/or their child may call the health department at 800-432-4121. 

·        Take steps to protect yourself, your family, your loved ones and your community. On Friday, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) issued a Public Health Advisory recommending everyone over the age of 2 should wear a face mask at indoor gatherings regardless of their vaccination status. In addition, establishments should implement a policy to ensure that all persons entering or seeking services, including employees, wear a mask. This face mask advisory remains in effect until further notice. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also issued recommendations for safe gatherings including getting vaccinated, wearing masks, social distancing and washing hands. Mask wearing is considered an effective mitigation strategy and is recommended for all in public indoor settings in areas of high transmission and indoors for those who are not vaccinated. Practice social distancing, when possible, especially in places where the vaccination status of those around you is unknown. 

·        Get tested if you are exposed or have symptoms. Anyone with signs or symptoms of COVID-19 should get tested regardless of vaccination status or prior infection. If you get tested because you have symptoms or were potentially exposed to the virus, you should stay away from others while you wait for your test result. Find a test site at http://www.nwhealth.org/covid19main.html. 

·        Complete your case investigation survey. In recent weeks the health department case investigation staff have been working to reach all newly confirmed or probable individuals in order to provide support and determine close contacts. The health department is asking individuals to complete the online Patient Education Genius (PEG) survey as soon as possible after receiving the link via text or email. This survey collects information from individuals who test positive for COVID-19 including demographics, symptoms, occupation, attendance at public events or gatherings, and people with whom they may have been in close contact. The survey does not gather any private information like social security numbers, personal passwords, or banking details. It also provides links to important information about isolation and quarantine as well as self-care.  With the high number of cases being reported to the health department each day, staff are not able to contact every affected person in a timely manner. Therefore, it is important for everyone to understand the steps they should take if they test positive or are exposed. For those steps, click here. If you have questions, please contact the public health information line at 800-386-5959. 

·        Self-reporting your positive COVID-19 test result. If you used a home COVID-19 test and received a positive result, please notify the health department by completing the self-reporting survey. Doing so notifies the health department of your positive status and allows us to contact you directly or send you a link to the case investigation survey for resources and guidance during your isolation period. See resource – if you test positive for COVID-19 for more information. 

“As we approach this holiday week, we may wish to count our blessings including good health. And good health starts with taking responsibility to keep yourself and those around you safe,” Peacock said. “We wish all of you a happy thanksgiving and hope you enjoy it in good health and safely with family and friends.” 

Stay up to date on the latest information in the Health Department of Northwest Michigan jurisdiction by liking and following our Facebook page and visiting our COVID-19 Data Dashboard. To locate a testing facility, visit the Michigan COVID-19 Test Finder website. To track the risk levels of COVID-19 pandemic indicators, visit the MI Safe Start Map website. For more information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, visit the MDHHS vaccine website or the CDC vaccine website.

LAUREL JOHNSON, M.Ed, CHES

Community Health Coordinator, Public Information Officer

3434 M-119, Suite A, Harbor Springs, MI 49740

Office: 231-347-5628 

www.nwhealth.org

11.22.2021 COVID Case Counts

11.22.2021 COVID Update

From BIBCO

November 22, 2021

Update:  The ferry did run today, leaving the island at 11:20 and returning later in the afternoon.

Today's boat schedule is on hold due to high winds.  The BIBCO will be checking things around 11 a.m. to determine if the boat will make a trip today.  They will not run unless the conditions improve.

Amazing Public Services' Response

November 21, 2021

You might think that the public services on Beaver Island are not on top of things.  You might think that they respond only when it is absolutely a disaster.  You might think that they are isolated, so they are less likely to be able to resolve public safety issues.  If you think that, you are completely and utterly WRONG!

Paged to an irate and concerned person's call to 911, "Just send the G__D___ Fire Department!" on the windiest night with freezing rain and cold, the first arrivals were from BIEMS, and one immediately began checking things and unplugging things.  Why?

As was determined by the rest of the BI Fire Department a little later, a wind blown, broken branch hit the overhead power line from the pole running to the house.  The surge of power took out the lights after burning out of the furnace control card and the satellite TV receiver.   The bedroom was filled with smoke, hence the call to the fire department.

A few minutes later, another 911 call came in for a person whose oxygen concentrator quit working due to the power outage on another street.  The patient needed the oxygen, so EMS was diverted to that location, but the two EMS providers at the first location stayed to help there.

Well, this night was about as entertaining as it was wonderful.  Watching these public service people do their jobs in the most professional way possible was the best possible thing that this retired paramedic could view. 

The fire department contacted the Great Lakes Energy repairman, and, before the temperature got below 60 degrees in the house, the power was restored to the home.  The elderly lady was completely unharmed, no freezing weather exposure was necessary, and dinner could be warmed up in the microwave.

Now, any other issues with the power surge and then the outage may require more help, but the home was warm and cozy, the dinner was tasty, and the company of people helping resolve this issue was satisfying and completely accomplished.  The special thanks to the first arrivals at the home, the return of the first arrivals, who fixed the furnace issue also, and the many thanks to the fire department are not only warranted, but also gladly received and happily broadcast on this website!

Did the fire department check every room and every location?  YES!  Did they arrange for the power line repair?  YES!  Did they make sure that there was no electrical fire?  YES!  Did they check on the elderly lady who lived there?  YES!  Did they verify that the power line was fixed?  YES!  Did they stick around long enough to make sure that the restored power did not cause a fire in the electrical wiring?  YES!

So, this is a shout out to all of our public service individuals that give of their time in helping this community!  YOU DID A GREAT JOB last night!

Now, the editor knows that identification of these individuals, but might leave out some that were not viewed by him, but everyone on the scene did an amazing job, and identity of individuals is not the purpose of this writing.  Thank you to all of you!!!

Weather by Joe

November 22, 2021

Good morning from Beaver Island! At 6 a.m. here on Carlisle Road, it is 28 degrees with a gusty wind from the E at 11 mph. The humidity is 85%. The pressure is 29.86. The skies are cloudy, and visibility is ten miles.

TODAY, it is expected to be cloudy and windy with possible flurries this morning. The high will be near freezing. The wind will be from the WNW at 20 to 30 mph. BRRRR!

TONIGHT, it is forecast for partly to mostly cloudy with possible snow flurries. The low will be in the middle 20's. The wind will switch to the NW at 10 to 15 mph.

TOMORROW, it is forecast for partly cloudy with a high near 40 degrees. The wind will be from the SW at 10 to 20 mph.
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ON THIS DAY

John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, is assassinated while traveling through Dallas, Texas, in an open-top convertible.
First lady Jacqueline Kennedy rarely accompanied her husband on political outings, but she was beside him, along with Texas Governor John Connally and his wife, for a 10-mile motorcade through the streets of downtown Dallas on November 22. Sitting in a Lincoln convertible, the Kennedys and Connallys waved at the large and enthusiastic crowds gathered along the parade route. As their vehicle passed the Texas School Book Depository Building at 12:30 p.m., Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly fired three shots from the sixth floor, fatally wounding President Kennedy and seriously injuring Governor Connally. Kennedy was pronounced dead 30 minutes later at Dallas’ Parkland Hospital. He was 46.
Vice President Lyndon Johnson, who was three cars behind President Kennedy in the motorcade, was sworn in as the 36th president of the United States at 2:39 p.m. He took the presidential oath of office aboard Air Force One as it sat on the runway at Dallas Love Field airport. The swearing in was witnessed by some 30 people, including Jacqueline Kennedy, who was still wearing clothes stained with her husband’s blood. Seven minutes later, the presidential jet took off for Washington.
The next day, November 23, President Johnson issued his first proclamation, declaring November 25 to be a day of national mourning for the slain president. On that Monday, hundreds of thousands of people lined the streets of Washington to watch a horse-drawn caisson bear Kennedy’s body from the Capitol Rotunda to St. Matthew’s Catholic Cathedral for a requiem Mass. The solemn procession then continued on to Arlington National Cemetery, where leaders of 99 nations gathered for the state funeral. Kennedy was buried with full military honors on a slope below Arlington House, where an eternal flame was lit by his widow to forever mark the grave.
Lee Harvey Oswald, born in New Orleans in 1939, joined the U.S. Marines in 1956. He was discharged in 1959 and nine days later left for the Soviet Union, where he tried unsuccessfully to become a citizen. He worked in Minsk and married a Soviet woman and in 1962 was allowed to return to the United States with his wife and infant daughter. In early 1963, he bought a .38 revolver and rifle with a telescopic sight by mail order, and on April 10 in Dallas he shot at and missed former U.S. Army general Edwin Walker, a figure known for his extreme right-wing views. Later that month, Oswald went to New Orleans and founded a branch of the Fair Play for Cuba Committee, a pro-Castro organization. In September 1963, he went to Mexico City, where investigators allege that he attempted to secure a visa to travel to Cuba or return to the USSR. In October, he returned to Dallas and took a job at the Texas School Book Depository Building.
Less than an hour after Kennedy was shot, Oswald killed a policeman who questioned him on the street near his rooming house in Dallas. Thirty minutes later, Oswald was arrested in a movie theater by police responding to reports of a suspect. He was formally arraigned on November 23 for the murders of President Kennedy and Officer J.D. Tippit.
On November 24, Oswald was brought to the basement of the Dallas police headquarters on his way to a more secure county jail. A crowd of police and press with live television cameras rolling gathered to witness his departure. As Oswald came into the room, Jack Ruby emerged from the crowd and fatally wounded him with a single shot from a concealed .38 revolver. Ruby, who was immediately detained, claimed that rage at Kennedy’s murder was the motive for his action. Some called him a hero, but he was nonetheless charged with first-degree murder.
Jack Ruby, originally known as Jacob Rubenstein, operated strip joints and dance halls in Dallas and had minor connections to organized crime. He features prominently in Kennedy-assassination theories, and many believe he killed Oswald to keep him from revealing a larger conspiracy. In his trial, Ruby denied the allegation and pleaded innocent on the grounds that his great grief over Kennedy’s murder had caused him to suffer “psychomotor epilepsy” and shoot Oswald unconsciously. The jury found Ruby guilty of “murder with malice” and sentenced him to die.
In October 1966, the Texas Court of Appeals reversed the decision on the grounds of improper admission of testimony and the fact that Ruby could not have received a fair trial in Dallas at the time. In January 1967, while awaiting a new trial, to be held in Wichita Falls, Ruby died of lung cancer in a Dallas hospital.

The official Warren Commission report of 1964 concluded that neither Oswald nor Ruby were part of a larger conspiracy, either domestic or international, to assassinate President Kennedy. Despite its firm conclusions, the report failed to silence conspiracy theories surrounding the event, and in 1978 the House Select Committee on Assassinations concluded in a preliminary report that Kennedy was “probably assassinated as a result of a conspiracy” that may have involved multiple shooters and organized crime. The committee’s findings, as with those of the Warren Commission, continue to be disputed by some.

 

Also, ON THIS DAY: Edward Teach, also known as Blackbeard, is killed off North Carolina’s Outer Banks during a bloody battle with a British navy force sent from Virginia.
Believed to be a native of England, Edward Teach likely began his pirating career in 1713, when he became a crewman aboard a Caribbean sloop commanded by pirate Benjamin Hornigold. In 1717, after Hornigold accepted an offer of general amnesty by the British crown and retired as a pirate, Teach took over a captured 26-gun French merchantman, increased its armament to 40 guns, and renamed it the Queen Anne’s Revenge.
During the next six months, the Queen Anne’s Revenge served as the flagship of a pirate fleet featuring up to four vessels and more than 200 men. Teach became the most infamous pirate of his day, winning the popular name of Blackbeard for his long, dark beard, which he was said to light on fire during battles to intimidate his enemies. Blackbeard’s pirate forces terrorized the Caribbean and the southern coast of North America and were notorious for their cruelty.
In May 1718, the Queen Anne’s Revenge and another vessel were shipwrecked, forcing Blackbeard to desert a third ship and most of his men because of a lack of supplies. With the single remaining ship, Blackbeard sailed to Bath in North Carolina and met with Governor Charles Eden. Eden agreed to pardon Blackbeard in exchange for a share of his sizable booty.

At the request of North Carolina planters, Governor Alexander Spotswood of Virginia dispatched a British naval force under Lieutenant Robert Maynard to North Carolina to deal with Blackbeard. On November 22, Blackbeard’s forces were defeated and he was killed in a bloody battle of Ocracoke Island. Legend has it that Blackbeard, who captured more than 30 ships in his brief pirating career, received five musket-ball wounds and 20 sword lacerations before dying.

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WORD OF THE DAY

roister; verb; (ROY-ster)

What it Means

Roister means "to engage in noisy partying or celebration."

// Fans roistered after their team won the championship.

Examples

"Of course, my student life wasn't all angst and regret. I spent much of my time falling in and out of love and roistering around the world of Cambridge theatre." — Joan Bakewell, The Guardian (London), 8 Sept. 2021

Did You Know?

Roister is related to French ruste, meaning "rude" or "rough." That word comes from the fairly neutral Latin rusticus, meaning "rural." Originally, the English verb was simply roist, and one who roisted was a roister. Those words are no longer used; instead, we have the verb roister, and the corresponding noun roisterer.

(from Merriam Webster and history dot com)

 

Maturity

by Cindy Ricksgers

Weather by Joe

November 21, 2021

Good morning from Beaver Island! At 7:15 a.m. on Carlisle Road, it is 28 degrees with no wind. The humidity is at 99%. The pressure is 29.98. It is cloudy and visibility is ten miles.

TODAY, it is expected to have gusty winds developing. The cloudy skies will be followed by rain and mixed snow with a 90% chance of precipitation this afternoon. The high will be near the middle 40's. The winds will be from the SW at 20 to 30 mph with higher gusts possible.

TONIGHT, it is forecast for continuing high gusty winds with a low near 27 degrees. The winds will continue with snow developing overnight. Chance of snow is 40%. The SW winds will continue at 20 to 30 mph with higher gusts possible.

TOMORROW, it is forecast for cloudy skies and windy with some snow showers possible in the morning. The high will be just above freezing. The winds will switch to the WNW, but will continue to be strong at 20 to 30 mph with some gusts around 40 mph. The chance of snow is 30%.
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ON THIS DAY
Thomas Edison announces his invention of the phonograph, a way to record and play back sound.
Edison stumbled on one of his great inventions—the phonograph—while working on a way to record telephone communication at his laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey. His work led him to experiment with a stylus on a tinfoil cylinder, which, to his surprise, played back the short song he had recorded, “MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB”. Public demonstrations of the phonograph made the Yankee inventor world famous, and he was dubbed the “Wizard of Menlo Park.”
Edison set aside this invention in 1878 to work on the incandescent light bulb, and other inventors moved forward to improve on the phonograph. In 1887, Edison resumed work on the device, using the wax-cylinder technique developed by Charles Tainter. Although initially used as a dictating machine, the phonograph proved to be a popular tool for entertainment, and in 1906 Edison unveiled a series of musical and theatrical selections to the public through his National Phonograph Company. Continuing to improve on models and cylinders over the years, the Edison Disc Phonograph debuted in 1912 with the aim of competing in the popular record market. Edison’s discs offered superior sound quality but were not compatible with other popular disc players.

During the 1920s, the early record business suffered with the growth of radio, and in 1929 recording production at Edison ceased forever. Edison, who acquired an astounding 1,093 patents in his 84 years, died in 1931.

Also ON THIS DAY: The Britannic, sister ship to the Titanic, sinks in the Aegean Sea on November 21, 1916, killing 30 people. More than 1,000 others were rescued.
In the wake of the Titanic disaster on April 14, 1912, the White Star Line made several modifications in the construction of its already-planned sister ship. First, the name was changed from Gigantic to Britannic (probably because it seemed more humble) and the design of the hull was altered to make it less vulnerable to icebergs. In addition, it was mandated that there be enough lifeboats on board to accommodate all passengers, which had not been the case with the Titanic.
The nearly 50,000-ton luxury vessel, the largest in the world, was launched in 1914, but was requisitioned soon afterward by the British government to serve as a hospital ship during World War I. In this capacity, Captain Charlie Bartlett led the Britannic on five successful voyages bringing wounded British troops back to England from various ports around the world.
On November 21, the Britannic was on its way to pick up more wounded soldiers near the Gulf of Athens, when at 8:12 a.m., a violent explosion rocked the ship. Captain Bartlett ordered the closure of the watertight doors and sent out a distress signal. However, the blast had already managed to flood six whole compartments—even more extensive damage than that which had sunk the Titanic. Still, the Britannic had been prepared for such a disaster and would have stayed afloat except for two critical matters.
First, Captain Bartlett decided to try to run the Britannic aground on the nearby island of Kea. This might have been successful, but, earlier, the ship’s nursing staff had opened the portholes to air out the sick wards. Water poured in through the portholes as the Britannic headed toward Kea. Second, the disaster was compounded when some of the crew attempted to launch lifeboats without orders. Since the ship was still moving as fast as it could, the boats were sucked into the propellers, killing those on board.
Less than 30 minutes later, Bartlett realized that the ship was going to sink and ordered it abandoned. The lifeboats were launched and even though the Britannic sank at 9:07, less than an hour after the explosion, nearly 1,100 people managed to make it off the ship. In fact, most of the 30 people who died were in the prematurely launched lifeboats. In 1976, famed ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau found the Britannic lying on its side 400 feet below the surface of the Aegean. The cause of the explosion remains unknown, but many believe that the Britannic hit a mine.
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WORD OF THE DAY

univocal; adjective; (yoo-NIV-uh-kul)

What It Means
Univocal means "unambiguous"—that is, "clear" or "precise."

// The results of the study were univocal.

Examples

"An audience member asked the panel if fans might get to see a musical episode in Season 3. Several TV shows have gone down this path…. The answer from [Scott Grimes] was, at first, univocal: 'Absolutely not.' However, he paused and added, 'But if we did….'" — Scott Snowden, Space.com, 26 Oct. 2019

Did You Know?

In Latin, the prefix uni- ("one") united with vox ("voice"), creating univocus, the source of English's univocal.

(from Merriam Webster and history dot com)

Patricia "Patty" Marie Cruickshank

July 31, 1963 - November 15, 2021

Patricia Marie “Patty” Cruickshank, age 58 of Hesperia, passed away Monday, November 15, 2021 at the Beaconshire Nursing Center in Detroit following her battle with Huntington’s Disease.  Patty was born on July 31, 1963 in Fremont to James and Mary (Delia) Martin and graduated from Hesperia High School.  Patty later married Scott Cruickshank on December 1, 1990 in Hesperia and had been a homemaker and lifelong resident of the Hesperia area.  Patty enjoyed watching television, traveling to Beaver Island with her family, shopping and spending time with her family.

Patty is survived by her husband, Scott of Hesperia; her son, Grant Cruickshank of Hesperia; her brothers, Jim Martin of Hesperia; Charlie (Sue) Martin of Fremont; Tim (Jen) Martin of Hesperia; Donald Martin of Hesperia; her uncle, Don (Glora) Delia; her aunt, Rose (Bob) White of Holton; several nieces and nephews and many cousins.  Patty was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Antoinette Martin in 2018; her father, James Martin; her sister, Kathleen Martin.

MEMORIAL SERVICES : Friday, December 10, 2021 from 4-6pm with services at 6pm at the Crandell Funeral Home – Fremont Chapel.  INTERMENT : Christ The King Catholic Cemetery and Holy Cross Cemetery on Beaver Island.  Friends may send a condolence or share a memory with the Cruickshank family online at www.crandellfh.com.  Arrangements by Crandell Funeral Home – Fremont Chapel. 

Weather by Joe

November 20, 2021

Good morning from Beaver Island! At 7:45 a.m. on Carlisle Road, it is 39 degrees with wind frm the SSE at 3 mph. The humidity is 87%. The pressure is 30.04. It is partly cloudy with visibility of ten miles.

TODAY, it is expected to have a slight chance of a rain shower with cloudy skies. The high will be in the middle 40's. The wind will be from the SW at 10 to 20 mph.

TONIGHT, it is forecast for a few clouds with a low near freezing. The wind will switch to the N at 5 to 10 mph.

TOMORROW, it is forecast for cloudy early with winds and rain with a possible snow mix. Chance of rain is 80%. The high will be in the middle 40's. Winds will be from the SW at 20 to 30 mph with higher gust possible.
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ON THIS DAY

Twenty-four high-ranking Nazis go on trial in Nuremberg, Germany, for atrocities committed during World War II beginning on November 20, 1945.
The Nuremberg trials were conducted by an international tribunal made up of representatives from the United States, the Soviet Union, France and Great Britain. It was the first trial of its kind in history, and the defendants faced charges ranging from crimes against peace, to crimes of war, to crimes against humanity. Lord Justice Geoffrey Lawrence, the British member, presided over the proceedings, which lasted 10 months and consisted of 216 court sessions.
On October 1, 1946, 12 architects of Nazi policy were sentenced to death. Seven others were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 10 years to life, and three were acquitted. Of the original 24 defendants, one, Robert Ley, committed suicide while in prison, and another, Gustav Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach, was deemed mentally and physically incompetent to stand trial. Among those condemned to death by hanging were Joachim von Ribbentrop, Nazi minister of foreign affairs; Hermann Goering, leader of the Gestapo and the Luftwaffe; Alfred Jodl, head of the German armed forces staff; and Wilhelm Frick, minister of the interior.

On October 16, 1946, 10 of the architects of Nazi policy were hanged. Goering, who at sentencing was called the “leading war aggressor and creator of the oppressive program against the Jews,” committed suicide by poison on the eve of his scheduled execution. Nazi Party leader Martin Bormann was condemned to death in absentia (but is now believed to have died in May 1945). Trials of lesser German and Axis war criminals continued in Germany into the 1950s and resulted in the conviction of 5,025 other defendants and the execution of 806.

Also, ON THIS DAY: The American whaler Essex, which hailed from Nantucket, Massachusetts, is attacked by an 80-ton sperm whale 2,000 miles from the western coast of South America.
The 238-ton Essex was in pursuit of sperm whales, specifically the precious oil and bone that could be derived from them, when an enraged bull whale rammed the ship twice and capsized the vessel. The 20 crew members escaped in three open boats, but only five of the men survived the harrowing 83-day journey to the coastal waters of South America, where they were picked up by other ships. Most of the crew resorted to cannibalism during the long journey, and at one point men on one of the long boats drew straws to determine which of the men would be shot in order to provide sustenance for the others. Three other men who had been left on a desolate Pacific island were saved later.
The first capture of a sperm whale by an American vessel was in 1711, marking the birth of an important American industry that commanded a fleet of more than 700 ships by the mid 18th century. Herman Melville’s classic novel Moby-Dick (1851) was inspired in part by the story of the Essex.
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WORD OF THE DAY

trepidation; noun; (trep-uh-DAY-shun)

What It Means

Trepidation is a feeling of fear that causes hesitation because you think that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen.

// The students felt a sense of trepidation as they walked toward the principal's office.

Examples

"The current market is great for employment. There was a lot of trepidation for companies in 2020. People wanted to see how things would work out and were stalling." — Lisa Noble, quoted in The New York Times, 8 Oct. 2021

Did You Know?

If you've ever trembled with fright, you know something of both the sensation and etymology of trepidation. The word comes from the Latin verb trepidare, which means "to tremble." Early meanings of trepidation, such as "tremulous motion" or "tremor," reflect that origin; those are followed by the word's sense of "apprehension."

(from Merriam Webster and history dot com)

Surviving Trauma

Update:  BI TV has been asked to live stream this event.  It should be viewable by all at http://beaverisland.tv

David Behling recently provided crisis support for our Beaver Island First Responders and graciously returns to assist our community at large in our healing process. If you or someone you know could benefit from this knowledge, or you would simply like to show your support, please join us. There will be lite food and drink provided by THELMA’S and this event is open to everyone in our small, resilient island community.   

Beaver Island Christian Church

 

 
 

 

Beaver Island Wildlife Club Winners

November 18, 2021

On Nov. 16th, the BIWC held its annual Harold Lounsberry Memorial Hunter's Dinner at the Shamrock Bar and Restaurant. Eric Hodgson and crew served a delicious buffet dinner including alligator nuggets, frog legs, bison stroganoff, turkey, and elk sausage. Everyone ate well and enjoyed the evening.

The Raffle was held. For the first time ever- all tickets for the Rifle Raffle were sold! all 999 of them! The winners were Roselyn DeVogel who won the .308 Weatherby Rifle, Larry Pease and Dennis Parker won the fishing trips with Kelly Day Charters, Patrick McGlynn won the $100 gift card to Cabelas, Tim Keeney won the Binoculars. There were two $50 cash prizes donated by the Swearingen camp also. They were won by Lisa Logan and George Burkett. New this year was a Card Deck, gun rifle for a .350 Ruger donated by John Haggard. 52 cards were sold for $20 each, ripped in half with the buyer retaining one half and the other going into a bag to be drawn. The winner was Justin Cooley.

We want to thank all who attended, bought tickets, the wait staff at the Shamrock, Eric and Dana for hosting and all the donors to make this a wonderful evening. This is the only fundraising event that the Wildlife Club does each year. Thank you.

Beautiful Sunset

September 29, 2021

Beaver on Barney's Lake

Sometimes you just have to take the ride out to the lake in the evening if you want to see a beaver at the lake.  They do seem to function more in the night than during the day.

This beaver was less than two car lengths away as the pictures were taken, but there was to be no flash picture without scaring it away.

Harbor Evening

It was a calm night on the 29th of September and the view after sunset was just as beautiful as the sunset.

BITA Meeting at the BIC Center

12 noon, August 29, 2021

Mary Cook was ill and unable to attend the meeting.

The purpose of today's meeting at the Community Center was to provide results of two surveys.  One was mailed to each property owner on Beaver Island.  The other was emailed to an email list created by the Beaver Island Boat Company.  The third compilation of information was not part of either of these surveys, and was "based upon industry standards," which meant that it really had no input from anyone living on, visiting, or any other way related to Beaver Island.

View pictures of most of PP Slides HERE

The major presenter of the information.

Tim McQueer, BIBCO representative

View video of the presentation HERE

 

 

 

From the Rural Health Center

November 18, 2021

Dear Friends,

Kelly Becker and her husband, Mike Hess, have decided it best to postpone this Saturday’s ‘Fare-Thee-Well’ event out of an abundance of respect for Island families and friends grieving for those lost in last Saturday’s tragic accident. They are holding us all in their hearts, and look forward to rescheduling during a future Island visit when all our hearts might be a little less heavy.

Take care all,
Ann
Beaver Island Rural Health Center
Acting Managing Director
ann@biruralhealth.org

Weather by Joe

November 19, 2021

Good morning form Beaver Island! At 6:30 a.m. here on Carlisle Road, it is 32 degrees with a 3 mph wind from the W. The humidity is 89%. The pressure is 30.28. It is cloudy with visibility at ten miles.

TODAY, it is expected to be cloudy with possible snow showers this morning. Chance of snow is 50%. The high will be near 40 degrees. The wind will be from the W at 10 to 15 mph.

TONIGHT, it is forecast for cloudy skies with a low near 35 degrees. The wind will be from the SSW at 10 to 20 mph.

TOMORROW, it is forecast for a shower or a wet snow shower in the morning. The high will be in the middle 40's. The wind will be from the SSW at 10 to 20 mph.
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ON THIS DAY

On November 19, 1863, at the dedication of a military cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, during the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln delivers one of the most memorable speeches in American history. In fewer than 275 words, Lincoln brilliantly and movingly reminded a war-weary public why the Union had to fight, and win, the Civil War.
The Battle of Gettysburg, fought some four months earlier, was the single bloodiest battle of the Civil War. Over the course of three days, more than 45,000 men were killed, injured, captured or went missing. The battle also proved to be the turning point of the war: General Robert E. Lee’s defeat and retreat from Gettysburg marked the last Confederate invasion of Northern territory and the beginning of the Southern army’s ultimate decline.
Charged by Pennsylvania’s governor, Andrew Curtin, to care for the Gettysburg dead, an attorney named David Wills bought 17 acres of pasture to turn into a cemetery for the more than 7,500 who fell in battle. Wills invited Edward Everett, one of the most famous orators of the day, to deliver a speech at the cemetery’s dedication. Almost as an afterthought, Wills also sent a letter to Lincoln—just two weeks before the ceremony—requesting “a few appropriate remarks” to consecrate the grounds.
At the dedication, the crowd listened for two hours to Everett before Lincoln spoke. Lincoln’s address lasted just two or three minutes. The speech reflected his redefined belief that the Civil War was not just a fight to save the Union, but a struggle for freedom and equality for all, an idea Lincoln had not championed in the years leading up to the war. This was his stirring conclusion: “The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

Reception of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address was initially mixed, divided strictly along partisan lines. Nevertheless, the “little speech,” as he later called it, is thought by many today to be the most eloquent articulation of the democratic vision ever written.

Also, ON THIS DAY: The Soviet Red Army under General Georgy Zhukov launches Operation Uranus, the great Soviet counteroffensive that turned the tide in the Battle of Stalingrad.
On June 22, 1941, despite the terms of the Nazi-Soviet Pact of 1939, Nazi Germany launched a massive invasion against the USSR. Aided by its greatly superior air force, the German army raced across the Russian plains, inflicting terrible casualties on the Red Army and the Soviet population. With the assistance of troops from their Axis allies, the Germans conquered vast territory, and by mid October the great Russian cities of Leningrad and Moscow were under siege. However, the Soviets held on, and the coming of winter forced the German offensive to pause.
For the 1942 summer offensive, Adolf Hitler ordered the Sixth Army, under General Friedrich Paulus, to take Stalingrad in the south, an industrial center and obstacle to Nazi control of the precious Caucasus oil wells. In August, the German Sixth Army made advances across the Volga River while the German Fourth Air Fleet reduced Stalingrad to burning rubble, killing more than 40,000 civilians. In early September, General Paulus ordered the first offensives into Stalingrad, estimating that it would take his army about 10 days to capture the city. Thus began one of the most horrific battles of World War II and arguably the most important because it was the turning point in the war between Germany and the USSR.
In their attempt to take Stalingrad, the German Sixth Army faced General Vasily Zhukov leading a bitter Red Army employing the ruined city to their advantage, transforming destroyed buildings and rubble into natural defensive fortifications. In a method of fighting the Germans began to call the Rattenkrieg, or “Rat’s War,” the opposing forces broke into squads eight or 10 strong and fought each other for every house and yard of territory. The battle saw rapid advances in street-fighting technology, such as a German machine gun that shot around corners and a light Russian plane that glided silently over German positions at night, dropping bombs without warning. However, both sides lacked necessary food, water, or medical supplies, and tens of thousands perished every week.
Soviet leader Joseph Stalin was determined to liberate the city named after him, and in November he ordered massive reinforcements to the area. On November 19, General Zhukov launched a great Soviet counteroffensive out of the rubble of Stalingrad. German command underestimated the scale of the counterattack, and the Sixth Army was quickly overwhelmed by the offensive, which involved 500,000 Soviet troops, 900 tanks, and 1,400 aircraft. Within three days, the entire German force of more than 200,000 men was encircled.
Italian and Romanian troops at Stalingrad surrendered, but the Germans hung on, receiving limited supplies by air and waiting for reinforcements. Hitler ordered Paulus to remain in place and promoted him to field marshal, as no Nazi field marshal had ever surrendered. Starvation and the bitter Russian winter took as many lives as the merciless Soviet troops, and on January 21, 1943, the last of the airports held by the Germans fell to the Soviets, completely cutting off the Germans from supplies. On January 31, Paulus surrendered German forces in the southern sector, and on February 2 the remaining German troops surrendered. Only 90,000 German soldiers were still alive, and of these only 5,000 troops would survive the Soviet prisoner-of-war camps and make it back to Germany.
The Battle of Stalingrad turned the tide in the war between Germany and the Soviet Union. General Zhukov, who had played such an important role in the victory, later led the Soviet drive on Berlin. On May 1, 1945, he personally accepted the German surrender of Berlin. Paulus, meanwhile, agitated against Adolf Hitler among the German prisoners of war in the Soviet Union and in 1946 provided testimony at the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg. After his release by the Soviets in 1953, he settled in East Germany.
_____________________
WORD OF THE DAY

draconian; adjective; (dray-KOH-nee-un)

What It Means

Draconian means "cruel" or "severe." It is usually used to describe harsh laws, rules, or regulations.

// Small businesses believe that the new tax is draconian.

Examples

"Members of the public were mostly against the censure policy…. They said the policy was draconian, divisive and unnecessary." — Braden Cartwright, The Daily Post (Palo Alto, California), 14 Oct. 2021

Did You Know?

Draconian comes from Draco, the name of a 7th-century B.C. Athenian legislator who created a written code of law. Draco's code was intended to clarify existing laws, but its severity is what made it really memorable. According to the code, even minor offenses were punishable by death, and failure to pay one's debts could result in slavery. Draconian, as a result, became associated with especially authoritative actions that are viewed as cruel or harsh.

 

(from Merriam Webster and history dot com

COVID-19 Case Counts

November 18 , 2021


The Health Department of Northwest Michigan is reporting the following case information:
• On Tuesday, Nov. 16, 60 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Antrim (15), Charlevoix (16), Emmet (15), and Otsego (14), and two new COVID-19 associated deaths in Charlevoix (1) and Emmet (1).
• On Wednesday, Nov. 17, 88 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Antrim (18), Charlevoix (25), Emmet (13), and Otsego (32), and two new COVID-19 associated deaths in Charlevoix (1) and Emmet (1).
• On Thursday, Nov. 18, 152 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Antrim (36), Charlevoix (32), Emmet (31), and Otsego (53).
As of 4 p.m. November 18, the cumulative case count information for the Health Department of Northwest Michigan is:
• Total COVID-19 cases in the following counties: Antrim (2,704), Charlevoix (2,853), Emmet (3,779), and Otsego (3,768).
• Recovered COVID-19 cases in the following counties: Antrim (2,276), Charlevoix (2,390), Emmet (3,223), and Otsego (3,031).
• Confirmed COVID-19 associated deaths in the following counties: Antrim (40), Charlevoix (41), Emmet (55), and Otsego (63).
On November 17, the State of Michigan reported 1,224,273 cases and 23,104 deaths.

On Beaver Island in November, as of the 10th, there were two positive tests reported by the BIRHC with one person hospitalized.

Obituary for William Francis Julian

Mr. William F. Julian of Traverse City, Michigan, age 55, passed away on Saturday, November 13, 2021. Bill was born to Vern E. and Mary Ann (Draves) on June 25, 1966, in Bay City, Michigan.

Bill is survived by his loving wife, Katharine (McKenzie); daughter Elizabeth “Betsy” Julian; mother Mary Ann Coryell; siblings Dennis (Tammie Cornell) Julian, Greg (Molly) Julian, Susan (Steve) Finkbeiner, and James (Leslie) Julian; step-mother Carol Julian; and numerous nieces, nephews, dear friends, and other beloved members of the family.

____________

William “Bill” Francis Julian, 55, of Traverse City, passed away unexpectedly Nov. 13, 2021.

Bill was born in Bay City, Jun. 25, 1966.

He attended and graduated from Bay City Central High School. Bill was involved with the school’s athletic program, excelling in football and basketball. Following graduation, Bill earned bachelor and master’s degrees from Central Michigan University. In 2003 Bill moved to Traverse City, met and married Katharine McKenzie and began a family.

Bill spent his professional life teaching and coaching. When he moved to Traverse City, he taught at St. Francis High School. He then took a position teaching social studies at East Middle School, where he remained until his passing.

In 1989 Bill earned his pilot license, followed by becoming a certified flight instructor in 1990. Bill loved to fly, and loved the outdoors. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was known for his love of animals, especially for his Labrador Retrievers. He volunteered his time and distributed joy, with the help of his canine companion at Munson Medical Center. He was also a steward with the Leelanau Conservancy.

Bill leaves behind his wife Katherine McKenzie; daughter Elizabeth “Betsy;” mother Mary Ann Coryell; siblings Dennis (Tammie), Greg (Molly), Sue (Steve) and Jim (Leslie); step-mother Carol Julian; as well as many family members and friends.

He was predeceased by his father Vern Julian and step-father Charles Coryell.

Visitation will be held from 4-7 PM, Thurs. Nov. 18, at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. A memorial service is set for 1:30 PM, Sat. Nov. 20, at Grace Episcopal Church in Traverse City.

Memorial contributions may be directed to a charity of one’s choice, or to the Leelanau Conservancy, www.leelanauconservancy.org/donate.

Memories and condolences may be shared on Bill’s tribute page, www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com

Kate R. Leese and Adam Kendall

Kate R. Leese, 35 of Beaver Island, passed away Saturday, November 13, 2021.  Adam W. Kendall, 37 of Beaver Island, passed away Saturday, November 13, 2021. 

Joint Funeral Services with her husband will take place Sunday, November 21, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. at the Center Point Assembly in Charlevoix.  You can livestream the Funeral Service via facebook at https://fb.me/e/4i4vLd3bC

The families will receive friends on Saturday, November 20, 2021 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Center Point Assembly in Charlevoix.  Visitation will take place again Sunday before the Funeral Service from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

A full obituary will be posted soon. 

Arrangements are in the care of the Charlevoix Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes

Today's BI Technical Advisory Committee Meeting Rescheduled

November 18, 2021

View notice HERE

A Great Lakes Jewell

Copyright 2007

This was a project of the Beaver Island Association. The video and pictures take us back to the times when John Works was the Peaine Supervisor, Don Vyse was the St. James Township Supervisor, and Bill Cashman was the Beaver Island Historical Society Director. It's great to see and hear these people, particularly those that are no longer with us. The kids are all grown up now. This is worth the time to watch the video.

View the video HERE

Community School Meetings

January 27, 2021

2021 Meetings Schedule

Committee of the Whole Mtg 2021

BEAVER ISLAND AIRPORT COMMISSION

will hold its 2021 meetings on the following dates at 12:00 p.m. at the Beaver Island Airport

Feb 1st, April 19th, August 16th , and October 25th - 2021

BITA Meetings

for 2021-2022, will be held on the following dates

November 9, 2021
May 10, 2022
December 14, 2021
June 14, 2022
January 11, 2022
July 12, 2022
February 8, 2022
August 9, 2022
March 8, 2022
September 13, 2022
April 12, 2022
October 11, 2022

Meeting Dates for St. James Township for 2022


January 12
February 9
March 9
April 13
May 11
June 15 (3rd Wednesday)
July 13
August 10
September 14
October 12
November 9
December 14

From Island Airways

November 17, 2021

There are no words, but we will try. We are devastated at the tragic loss. The families are in our constant thoughts and prayers.

The Bill Julian family
The Adam Kendall and Kate Leese family
The Perdue family
Laney Perdue
The Beaver Island EMS and Fire Fighter families
The Island Airways family

The Beaver Island Family

We ask that everyone keep these families in your thoughts and prayers as well.

We are continuing to work closely with the FAA and NTSB. Providing safe service to Beaver Island has been our life’s work and will continue to be. This is our home and family, and we are resuming our service.

We would like to thank our Island family for the outpouring of love and support. We feel the love surrounding us and we are forever grateful.

Paul & Angel Welke

From the GLIA to Beaver Island Community

 

To the Beaver Island community,

It is with profound sadness that we learned of the recent airplane accident on Beaver Island. Experiencing a sudden loss of life is always devasting, though as fellow Great Lakes islanders, we appreciate how it must be extra hard for your close-knit island community and all others who are affected. We recognize that the ferry and air transportation links are critical, but sometimes fragile, links to our way of life.

 

Though we come from different islands, today we stand with you “as islanders” in support and sorrow through this difficult time.

Sincerely,

Steering Committee,

Great Lakes Islands Alliance

On behalf of GLIA Members and Partner Organizations from:

Bois Blanc Island, Michigan

Drummond Island, Michigan

Harsens Island, Michigan

Kelleys Island, Ohio

Les Cheneaux Islands, Michigan

Mackinac Island, Michigan

Madeline Island, Wisconsin

Manitoulin Island, Ontario

Middle Bass Island, Ohio

Neebish Island, Michigan

Pelee Island, Ontario

South Bass Island (Put-in-Bay), Ohio

St. Joseph Island, Ontario

Sugar Island, Michigan

Washington Island, Wisconsin

Wolfe/Howe Islands, Ontario

 

The Island Institute

Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

The Stewardship Network

JOB POSTING


BEAVER ISLAND COMMUNITY SCHOOL
37895 Kings Highway
Beaver Island, Michigan, 49782
(231) 448-2744

Notice of Vacancy: November 16, 2022
Application Deadline: November 23, 2022

Job Title:                        Part-Time Pre-School Aide (Daily 8:00 am to 11:15 am)
Position Begins:        December 1, 2021 or ASAP
Location:                        Beaver Island Community School, Beaver Island, MI
Salary:                             $15.00 to $16.50

Job Responsibilities: Working under the overall supervision of the superintendent-principal and direct supervision of the pre-school lead teacher, the pre-school aide will be responsible for contributing to a healthy learning environment for all students every day. Specific job duties will be determined by the needs of our students, but at a minimum will involve:

Qualifications: Applicants for this position will have at least the following minimum qualifications:

For More Information About This Position: Contact Wilfred Cwikiel, BICS Superintendent-Principal at (231) 448-2744 or wilc@beaverisland.k12.mi.us

To Apply: Hand deliver or send a resume and cover letter with references to the BICS office. All applications must be received by 3:30 pm on Tuesday, November 23, 2021.

Beaver Island Community School is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity for all members of our educational community and abide by Federal laws prohibiting job discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetic information.

Another Charlevoix County Plane Crash

November 15, 2021

On November 15, 2021, at 1:28 pm the Federal Aviation Administration reported that there was an airplane on radar that went off radar that was near the Boyne Valley / Melrose township line. The Charlevoix County Sheriff’s Office, along with Boyne City Police Department, Michigan State Police, Michigan DNR, Melrose Township Fire Department, Boyne Valley Township Fire Department, Boyne Valley EMS, and Boyne City EMS all responded to the last known area the airplane was reported. Upon the Michigan State Police helicopter responding from Lansing, the airplane was located.

The pilot, Kenneth Daniel Yott, 61, of Pontiac, MI and his passenger Corbin Dennis Kennedy, 21, of Howell, MI were flying to Boyne City airport when their Beechcraft King Air airplane crashed into a wooded area west of Romaniak Road in Melrose Township. Both Yott and Kennedy were located in the airplane and were deceased. The families of the victims have been notified.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have been contacted and are responding to the crash scene.

Harris Fawell, RIP

Former State Senator and United States Congressman Harris Fawell passed away Nov. 11th at his home of 57 years in Naperville Il. He was 92 years old.

Fawell was born on March 25th, 1929, in West Chicago, to Walter and Mildred Fawell. Walter Fawell was, for a time, Mayor of West Chicago. Fawell had three brothers: Tom (his twin), Bruce and Mike. Baseball was a family passion and all four brothers played in the Fox Valley league, organized by their father, where they competed with enough zeal to earn a reputation as “the fighting Fawells.” Fawell’s baseball talents were considerable and earned him a brief stint with a Detroit Tigers minor league affiliation in Greenville, South Carolina during his college years.

Fawell graduated from West Chicago high school, commuted to North Central College, and then to Kent College of Law, where he gained his juris doctorate in 1952. In that same year he married Ruth Johnson of Bensenville, Il. Ruth was also a North Central graduate and a Naperville teacher for 25 years. The two of them raised three children and had been married 69 years when he died.

After graduating from college, Fawell served as an assistant state’s attorney for DuPage County and then practiced law, first in West Chicago and then in Naperville. He was senior partner of the law firm of Fawell, James and Brooks, which found its home in the historic Scott house on Washington Street in Naperville, where his son-in-law and grandson practice law now. During the 1950s he chaired a committee that helped defeat an effort to establish a horse racetrack in Naperville, an accomplishment that earned him a loyal following when he turned to politics.

Fawell served in the Illinois State Senate from 1963-77. He was named “Outstanding Freshman State Senator” by the Illinois Press Association. During his time in the legislature he sponsored legislation that provided park land for special needs children and adults throughout the state. He also created legislation that would have compelled developers to donate park land to communities in which they gained their fortune. That legislation was defeated by special interests but lead to the Naperville Land Cash Donation Ordinance, which Fawell also spearheaded, and which resulted in the acquisition of acres of park land in Naperville. This ordinance served as a blueprint for others across the country.

Fawell was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1985 and served there until 1999. As a congressman, he co-founded the “Porkbusters Coalition” a bipartisan group of representatives and senators that included John McCain and that set its sight on fiscal bloat. Fawell was the chief sponsor of 23 bills which eliminated $2 billion in pork barrel projects. He was also known for his expertise in labor and health issues and for his efforts to provide more equitable healthcare to workers in small businesses.

After leaving congress, Fawell wrote articles on Servant Leadership that appeared in The International Journal of Servant Leadership, at Gonzaga University. These essays reflected his interest in labor relations, an interest which had deepened during his time on the Education and Labor Committee in the House of Representatives. He also served on the Board of Trustees of his alma mater, North Central College. In retirement he relished summers at his vacation home on Beaver Island, Michigan, where he and his wife, Ruth, patiently hosted and entertained wave after wave of his family, ever increasing in size.

Politically, Fawell was a Republican moderate. A fiscal conservative, he was popular with taxpayer and business groups but also earned high marks from environmental and women’s rights groups. He was one of only two Republican state senators who voted to help pass Fair Housing legislation in the 1960s. He publicly supported Barack Obama in 2008.

Fawell was described in an article in the Chicago Tribune as an “atypical politician, preferring to keep a low profile rather than grab headlines,” a man “with a low-key demeanor and a human touch.” His family knew him as wise and philosophical with a huge fund of patience, empathy and understanding, a subtle, and sometimes biting, sense of humor and a playful gift for language. He had a deep and abiding interest in spiritual issues and literature and in his later years found a warm community in the Community United Methodist Church in Naperville. He knew scores of old jazz standards by heart and had a taste for American doggerel and folk poetry, such as “Casey at the Bat” and Robert Service’s “The Cremation of Sam McGee,” which he would recite at the drop of a hat. When asked what he was up to, Fawell was fond of responding by quoting L. Frank Baum: “cogitating, meditating and otherwise hobnobbing with the gods.”

Fawell is survived by his wife, Ruth, and their three children: Richard (Yvonne) of Naperville; Jane (Robert Heap) of Naperville, and John (Yvette Begue) of Quincy MA, as well as eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren, and his brother Michael of Glen Ellyn.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to any of the following charities: Community Methodist Church, 20 N. Center St., Naperville IL 60540 (630-355-1483); Loaves and Fishes, 1871 High Grove Lane, Naperville IL 60540. (630-355-3663); Western DuPage Special Recreation Association, 116 N. Schmale Road, Carol Stream IL, 60188-0962.

Private family services will be held.

Christmas Bazaar

November 14, 2021

The Annual Christas Bazaar at the Gregg Fellowship Center was this past Sunday, beginning at 11 a.m. and going through 2:30 p.m. There were lots of locally made items available for sale at this location, and a variety that you would have a hard time describing.  Lots and lots of variety, from jewelry to wreaths, from food to calendars, from photos to quilts, and much more.

View a gallery of photos HERE

View a video of a walk around of the Gregg Fellowship Center HERE

From the Transfer Station

November 15, 2021

The Transfer Station will be CLOSED THIS SATURDAY NOVEMBER 20TH. THEY WILL RE-OPEN ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22ND at 11 am.
THANK YOU!

Church Services for 11/14/2021

November 15, 2021

Christian Church Service

Pastor Angel Abshear,  Judi Meister, and Sharon Blanchard

Sue Oole

Those present gathered in unity to provide prayers for those lost in the plane crash and for the injuries of the survivor.  This was an emotionally intense moment.

View video of the service HERE

Prayer Service at Holy Cross

Patrick Nugent lead the service.

Jacque LaFreniere did the readings,  Leona Pease did the announcements.

View video of the service HERE

 How Do We Go On?

by Cindy Ricksgers

Plane Crash on Beaver Island

Update:  November 16, 2021

Christie Heller Purdue was interviewed outside of the hospital in Grand Rapids by ABC's "Good Morning, America." 

Here is a link to that interview.

Update: November 15, 2021

Charlevoix County Sheriff Chuck Vondra reported the pilot’s name to be Wiliam Julian — a part-time pilot who started with Island Airways in April.

A gathering took place tonight down by the Marina South at the Nathan Altman sculpture.  Many island people and some family members of those lost in the plane crash were present at a candlelight vigil at this location.  Father Peter Wigton did a prayer service here for those lost in the crash and for the single survivor. 

The gathering

The night of prayer

(Thank you for Paul Cole and Becca Foli photos above.)

There is a fund raising effort for the medical costs for the young lady who is recovering in a hospital in Grand Rapids.  You can access the Go Fund Me by clicking HERE

November 13, 2021

At 1:50 p.m. today, the pager went off for a plane crash at 36155 East Side Drive, which is Welke Airport.  The Beaver Island EMS and Fire Department along with the Charlevoix County Deputy were paged to Welke Airport for the crash.  The radio traffic stated that there were at least two survivors, but that is all the traffic stated.  As more information becomes available, it will be posted. 

There was traffic that a USCG helicopter was on the scene. There was no off-Island air ambulances available.  The aircraft is owned by MCPHILLIPS FLYING SERVICE INC,  BEAVER ISLAND , MI, US.  The tail number is N866JA, the airplane that is an FAA licensed air ambulance, and the main vehicle used by BIEMS for air evacuations.

Loading the patients into the USCG helicopter at 2:25 p.m. with an estimated time of arrival at the Petoskey Fairgrounds of 25 to 30 minutes.  Both patients are noted to be priority patients.

At 2:30 p.m., no more personnel needed.  Beaver Island EMS director and another EMS personnel will be flying in the USCG helicopter. 

Pictures taken at 4 p.m.

Charlevoix County Sheriff's Department News Release at 5:15 p.m.

On November 13, 2021, the Charlevoix County Sheriffs Office responded to a plane crash at Welke Airport. The plane was arriving at Welke airport when it crashed. There were five people on the airplane with four confirmed deceased. The survivor was taken to McLaren Hospital for treatment. We are still attempting to notify families of the deceased at this time.   Identities will be released pending notification of the families.

The Federal Avaiation Administration has been notified. Assisting on scene was the Charlevoix County Sheriffs Office, the Beaver Island Fire Department, Beaver Island EMS, Lake Charlevoix EMS flew over to assist Beaver Island EMS, and U.S. Coast Guard.

The Charlevoix County Sheriff's Office will release more information as soon as the families of the deceased have notified their family members.

Lt. William Church

Charlevoix County Sheriff’s Office

1000 Grant St

Charlevoix, MI  49720

From the Petoskey News Review:

"Island Airways 1:30 p.m. flight on Saturday, Nov. 13, resulted in the fatalities of the pilot and three other passengers.  The passengers are reported to be Gaylord realtor Mike Perdue and new-to-the-island Kate Leese and Adam Kendall who were planning a vineyard in the area.  All were lost in the crash, including two dogs, except Perdue's child, the lone survivor, who has been severely injured."

Editor's note:

There are several postings on facebook about this, which will not be included here.  BINN is still waiting for the complete news release from the CC Sheriff's Department.

COVID Vaccine Information from BIRHC

November 13, 2021

On Friday, November 19, 2021, the Beaver Island Rural Health Center will hold a Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination clinic
for those 5 to 11 years of age. Parents interested in the vaccination for their child should call 231-448-2275 to make an appointment.
The vaccine comes in ten-dose vials which must be used within the same day. Vaccinations are by appointment only; no walk-ins will
be available. If there are more than ten appointments requested, we will schedule additional vaccinations on Tuesday, November 23.

Pfizer BioNTech Youth and Adult Vaccines and Boosters are still available and require six-person scheduling blocks. Please call 231-448-2275 to check eligibility and for an appointment.

The Health Center does not anticipate receiving more Moderna vaccine, however the CDC and FDA have authorized the use of Pfizer Boosters for those who received the initial Moderna series.

Special BICS Board Meeting

December 8, 2021, at 6 p.m.

B. I. Emergency Services Authority Special Meeting

November 11, 2021

Minutes of the special Meeting on 11/09/21

Authority Members Present at the meeting:

Jim McDonough, Bob Turner, Doug Tilly

Kitty McNamara

Paramedic Cody Randall was paged just before the meeting started.

View video of the special meeting HERE

The paperwork of typical EMT salaries presented at this meeting

Northwest Michigan Health Modifies Masking Order

November 10, 2021

As mentioned at the BICS Board Meeting this past Monday, the health department has modified the masking order for schools in its jurisdiction.  Rather than a summary made by BINN or the summary provided at the BICS Board meeting, the two documents from the health department are provided below for individuals to read and interpret on their own.

If you have questions about school activities and your entry in the school building, a phone call to the school would be worth the time and effort prior to arrival.

NR 211110 Amended K-12 mask order (the actual order)

HDNW 11.9.2021 First Amended Order  (Summary)

From January to October, unvaccinated Michiganders accounted for 93.1% of COVID cases, 90.7% of hospitalizations and 90.5% of deaths. (from MDHHS EMS Newletter)

Peaine Township Board Meeting

November 9, 2021

View/download meeting packet HERE

View video of the meeting HERE

Special BI Emergency Services Authority Meeting

November 9, 2021, @ 2 p.m.

The purpose of today's meeting was to discuss the need to increase the pay for the Basic EMTs on Beaver Island.  There was nothing in writing for this meeting.  There was a great deal of discussion about the pay as well as discussion about the pay for other services in Northern Michigan.  There were no decisions made regarding this issue.  There was a request to have the information provided in writing to the authority board members.  Then there was another special meeting scheduled for Thursday, November 11th at 2 p.m.

View video of this meeting HERE

Peaine Township Agenda

Meeting at 7 p.m., 11/10/21

View/download the agenda HERE

B. I. Community School Board of Education Meeting

November 8, 2021, at 6:30 p.m.

View Board Packet for this meeting HERE

View video of this meeting HERE

Welcome to Our Newest Business Supporters

November 8, 2021

BINN truly appreciates the two businesses that have become the newest business supporters for Beaver Island News on the 'Net. Thank you to McDonough's Market and Dahlwhinnie's Bakery and Deli for your support.

Once again, thank you!!

McKenna Turner

During the Nov. 1, 2021, Area-Wide Professional Learning Day, Char-Em staff prepared a special video to share with regional educators demonstrating their impact on students and families. Each of the speakers represented one of the five tenets of the Whole Child philosophy: Safe, Healthy, Engaged, Challenged, and Supported. Parts of the speakers’ stories were compiled for the video.

This is the full story provided by McKenna Turner, representing the Challenged tenet.

Hi! My name is McKenna Turner, and I’m a senior at Beaver Island Community School. And yes, attending public school on an island in the middle of Lake Michigan can be a challenge! Summer is short, winter is long, and isolation is real. However, there is one area where I have enjoyed the challenges presented – and that’s at school. I’ve been challenged to find my way to my passion by my teachers and administrators, and I’m excited about my future!

As you might imagine, a school as small as Beaver Island can’t offer every subject to meet every student’s interest. But where we might lack in some resources, our tiny island school makes up for in ingenuity and creativity.

I moved to Beaver Island with my parents just before 7th grade. My grandpa and dad had been coming to the island for decades to visit. On one visit about six years ago, my dad was offered a job as the island’s only electrician. He said yes, and we moved northwest from Waterford. 

In 7th and 8th grade, I worked on the yearbook staff and really enjoyed it. It first sparked my interest in graphic-design type of work. In 9th grade, my grandparents were undertaking a house demolition and rebuilding project, and my grandpa encouraged me to look at the plans and layouts while I helped them with the project. At that point, those two interests collided – home construction and graphic design.

The last piece of my future puzzle came in the spring of 9th grade. I was enrolled in a career tech class that year, Health Occ. I was invited to attend Char-Em’s annual Career tech banquet at Boyne Mountain as a top student. During the student awards, they played a video about each program. When I saw a video about drafting and design offered in some districts, it clicked for me – I wanted to become an architect. 

Beaver Island is too small of a district to offer this specific of a class, however. But my teachers, Mr. Kohen and Ms. Loder in particular,  immediately started encouraging my interest by giving me books about subjects like the tallest buildings in Chicago and the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. I was really fascinated. 

After that career tech banquet, I told our superintendent, Mr. Cwikiel, about my interest in architecture. He helped me look around for classes at area colleges, but we couldn’t piece anything together. In the spring of my sophomore year, he helped me enroll in online classes through Minnesota State University, where I have taken courses in drafting and design for the last two years. I take these classes at home, between school, sports practice and work. So far I have taken 8 classes and when I graduate from Beaver Island in spring of 2022, I will also have 16 college credits completed. I will also be certified in drafting technology.

During the summer before my junior year, I started working for a local construction company. I continue to work there and receive work-study credits at school for this, which is great – and I get paid. It’s another way I challenge myself to get better and better at my future career.

My plan is to attend Rice University to receive my bachelor’s in architecture and structural engineering. Then I’d like to attend Tulane University for my master’s degree. Later in life I would like to attend Vanderbilt for my master’s in structural engineering. I plan to own a construction company where I do the architectural designs and then help build the buildings. 

When I’m not studying toward my future or working, I play the cello and I also love to play sports. In the fall I play volleyball and soccer and have practices almost every night. In the winter I play basketball. I would say for a tiny district like Beaver Island, adults work hard to optimize every opportunity for students and challenge us to be our best selves. 

I feel like I’m ready to leave the island and get started with my life. I am going to miss this place, but I’m ready for the next step.

(posted with permission from Char-EM ISD)

No Cellphone Access Issues

November 5, 2021

Some people are concerned about the lack of cellphone coverage on Beaver Island.  There was a situation that occurred tonight that demonstrated the real issue, but luckily it was not a life and death situation, and luckily there was no lack of individuals to drive to get help.  The editor came upon two people with a dog that were walking north on the South End Road.  They were walking trying to get a cell signal because their van was stuck and buried up to the axle.

They had Verizon, but there was a very spotty signal at their location. The editor volunteered to drive up the roadway until there was a good signal and place a phone call for them to get them some help.  After driving a quarter to a third of a mile up the road, a signal was obtained, and the phone call was made.  Two actually were made.  One to the person that they wanted called and one to the deputy to follow up and make sure that they got out.

It is interesting to the editor that the sole purpose of the drive was to verify the locations where there was the cellphone signal capable of actual communications.  The comparison between the cellphone coverage area for AT and T, the 800 Mhz coverage, and the cellphone coverage for Verizon.  Interestingly enough, the car was stuck at a location with absolutely no coverage by any cellphone or 800 Mhz based upon the maps and the actual check of cellphone signal.

Everywhere from the Southhead Lighthouse and up the West Side Road, there was nothing but spotty coverage with not real communication possible.  This is a concern to this editor, expecially with more and more people living down in these locations.  It is also a concern since there currently seem to be no phone lines available for TDS Telecom house phones either. 

So, the editor went for the almost four hour drive to check out these areas and then took the time to put the information on a map provided by CCE Central Dispatch.  The code is really not complicated.  The areas where there is no ATT coverage are marked by ATT with line through it.  The areas with no Verizon coverage are marked by a V with a line through it.  The areas where there is a Verizon signal are marked by a V with circle around it. 

Even though the map is not a real fancy creation, it certainly shows that the communication issues on part of Beaver Island are very serious, and they need to worked on, especially in the area of public safety and any kind of search and rescue, including water rescue and shoreline search.  Hopefully, someone will take some time to verify these issues with communication, and then work to make certain that the issues are resolved.

Here is the map that took almost five hours of work to accomplish.  Hopefully someone who needs to see it, will see it, and then DO something about it.

From the Community Center

November 5, 2021

Change in hours beginning on Monday, November 8th...
Monday through Friday-
9am-7pm
Saturdays 9am-9pm
Closed on Sundays
Don't forget we show movies on Saturdays, kids movie at 4pm, and a feature film at 7pm. Free will Donation. Concessions available all day.

St. James Township Meeting

November 3, 2021, @ 5:30 pm

The Regular St. James Township Board meeting will be today at the St. James Township Hall at 5:30 p.m.  The documents for this meeting are posted below.

General Fund November 2021 Amendment

monthlyfinancereport11_november.2021

Municipal Dock Fund - November 2021 Amendment

nov 2021 line item for board

SJTBagn11.03.21

supervisorslens9_November2021

Draft Minutes ,May 27, 2021 Special Meeting

Draft Minutes, October 13, 2021 Special Meeting

Payments Journal Dock 10.6.21-11.3.21

Payments Journal Gen Fund 10.6.21-11.3.21

Payments Journal Road 10.6.21-11.3.21-1

Payments Journal Sewer 10.6.21-11.3.21

Payroll Register (Summary) 10.21

Receipts Journal 10.6.21-11.3.21

Statement of Revenue and Expenditures 11.21 Dock

Statement of Revenue and Expenditures 11.21 General

Statement of Revenue and Expenditures 11.21 Road

Marina Report 2021

View video of the meeting HERE

Toys for Tots

This year Connie Boyle is again managing the “Ellen Welke Memorial Toy Drive” program, in its 30th year. The toys she collects go through Social Services to disadvantaged kids in Charlevoix County, including on Beaver Island. Anything donated should be left unwrapped so it can be targeted to the right recipient. The drive to collect these gifts will run until December 11th. Any questions, call her at 448-2491.

Beaver Island Transfer Station Winter Hours

November 1, 2021

Beginning today, November 1, 2021, the transfer station hours are from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.  The transfer station is closed on Sundays and on holidays.

Beaver Island Airport Commission Meeting

October 28, 2021 at noon

This meeting took place today at the Beaver Island Township Airport.  The airport manager and one member of the commission were on the phone.  There were four members of the commission present; Joe Moore, Kitty McNamara, Carla Martin, and Dave Paul.

View documents for this meeting HERE

View video of the meeting HERE

From Rural EMS IS Different!

A Book of Beaver Island EMS Stories

A Really Long Day Becomes a Really Busy Week
By Joe Moore
Nothing ever happens here on the most remote inhabited island in the Great Lakes;  never any emergencies, never any serious problems, and certainly never any need for more than one two member crew to respond to the emergencies that do occur.  Such are the thoughts of some members of this community, but I’ve a story to tell about one serious disaster that occurred on this island, and, thankfully, we had the volunteers available to help take care of the patients involved.


“Beaver Island EMS, respond to Donegal Bay for a Tracker rollover accident with unknown number of victims.  Repeating,  Beaver island EMS, respond to Donegal Bay for a Tracker rollover accident.  Unknown number of injuries,” Central Dispatch paged for our local EMS.

Read the story HERE

November 2021 Edition of the Beaver Island Christian Church Newsletter

October 25, 2021

View/download the newsletter HERE

BITA Meeting Dates for 2021-2022

View/download this information HERE

Trails Document for NLMIC Collaborative Meeting

October 14-15, 2021

Beaver Island Trails Master Plan DRAFT Work Plan Oct 15 2021

beaver-island-trails-map 2021 handout front

CHARLEVOIX COUNTY TRANSIT BEAVER ISLAND SERVICE


OCTOBER 1, 2021 - JANUARY 2022
MONDAY - FRIDAY
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM*
*PREMIUM SERVICE IS AVAILABLE OUTSIDE OF POSTED BUSINESS HOURS
(BASED ON DRIVER AVAILABILITY)

FARES:
ADULTS 60+ RIDE FREE (THANK YOU COA)
ADULTS 19-59 $2.00/ONE WAY TRIP
YOUTH 3-18 $1.50/ONE WAY TRIP
DISCOUNTED FARE $1.00/ONE WAY TRIP *CCT REDUCED FARE PAPERWORK MUST BE ON FILE

PREMIUM FARES:
FIRST PASSENGER $5.00/ONE WAY TRIP
EACH ADDITIONAL PASSENGER $3.00/ONE WAY TRIP
*PREMIUM FARES ARE FOR ALL AGE GROUPS/NO DISCOUNTS

To reserve a ride, please call 231.582.6900 between 7:30am-4:30pm.

Medical appointments should be scheduled at least 3 days in advance.
Deliveries should be scheduled at least 1 day in advance.

DELIVERIES CANNOT INTERFERE WITH PASSENGER SERVICE AND WILL BE SCHEDULED WHEN TIME PERMITS.

Dark Sky Project-List of Locations

April 7, 2021

Guide to Beaver Island Dark Sky Viewing Areas
These locations are accessible to the public for night viewing in the same way as daytime visits. Some locations have become inaccessible because of high water. It is advisible to visit sites during daylight for familiarity
Beaver Island Dark Sky Sites
ref. Wojan/Cashman Map 2018
List includes ownership and comments on qualities, viewing angles, access and light pollution problems encountered.
BI Dark Sky sites on the Big Lake will have visible light domes over towns and cities on the horizon. Inland sites will have less.
Private Property policy; you have to know somebody.
There are some very good Dark Sky Sites on private property but the BIDSP can only advise that you obtain permission from the property owners before entering private property.
LTC - Little Traverse Conservancy
SoM - State of Michigan
StJ - St James Township
Peaine - Peaine Township
Associations (you gotta know somebody)
NORTH
Whiskey Point - St. James Twp - All directions
car lights town lights
Potentially one the best viewing areas but until something is done about the excessive light pollution it remains marginal
Gull Harbor - St James Twp- NE to SW
flooded
general astronomy, meteor showers, n. lights
seasonally flooded, car lights
Sucker Point - Lookout Point Association All directions
Excellent sky quality with friendly neighbors.
Sucker Point Lake Drive- excellent sky quality
Northeast only, summer sunrises,
Moon and Planet risings
Aurora Borealis. Very dark
Car lights
St. James Township campground - NW to NE
Excellent sky quality but a limited view to mostly north
A prime location for viewing Northern Lights
WEST
Donegal Bay Township beach - St. James township
South to North, excellent sky quality
Perfect for sunsets, meteor showers, northern lights, overhead
viewing, and Zodiacal Light. Car lights from the road can be
blocked.
,
Donegal Bay pavilion - Port St. James Assoc. - SW - NW
sunsets, meteor showers, western sky
Excellent sky quality but has lighting issues
pavilion has newly installed lighting car lights
McCauley Point - State of MI - 360° All directions
Excellent sky quality with locations with zero lights
1/4 mile trail
Barneys Lake Nature Preserve - LTC - excellent sky quality
Barney's Lake is in a bowl that blocks all light sources
except for the airport beacon when it's operating or the
occasional rare car on the road
Bonners Landing - State of MI - 360° all directions
Excellent sky quality and very dark
The road down the bluff is private so parking is
recommended on top. Less than a 1/4 mile
Township Airport - 360° All directions
Township Airport - 360° All directions
Use the two-track road opposite the runway near the
Coffee Shop. Even with the standing lights at the airport
there is good viewing in all directions. A convenient
location.
The Big Field St of MI Inside proposed BI Dark Sky Sanctuary
Excellent sky quality with zero light sources.
Reach by the two track road north of Miller's Marsh and stop at the "Y". You're there.
Light domes from Traverse City MI can be visible
Camp #3 Clearing. Inside proposed BI Dark Sky Sanctuary
Reached by following Camp#3 Trail (Road) south past
Fire Tower Rd and Green's Lake to where the sky opens up.
Probably the remotest viewing area on the list but with
zero light sources or visible light domes it's probably the
darkest. Partially tree covered but is situated alongside
Tower Ridge swamp with viewing lanes through the trees.
SOUTH
Iron Ore Bay west/Point Betsy - State of MI - NE to NW
high water has reduced usable area
all directions, very dark - north limited
Iron Ore Bay beach - Townships - E to W. Excellent sky quality
Light domes from Traverse City and Green Bay WI lend
Grandeur to viewing the sky over Lake Michigan, but the
lights from the few houses are not a problem. Both sites
on Iron Ore Bay are a long way from town but well worth
it. Outstanding.
Beaver Head Light House - Charlevoix County -
Overhead sky quality is excellent with zero light sources. The
horizons are blocked but the Beaverhead light house
silhouette in the view can be very special
EAST
Cables Bay Beach - State of MI - NE to SW
Very dark - north limited
1/4 trail from bridge
Wagners Campground - State of MI, Peaine twp - NE to SE
Excellent for viewing planet and moonrises over Lake
Michigan and the Mainland. Lightdomes from Traverse
City toThe Soo
Grandeur
Little Sand Bay Nature Preserve #1 featured viewing area.
Probably the most convenient but extremely dark viewing
area with the biggest sky. It's considered the best Beaver
Island Dark Sky Viewing Area outside of the Sanctuary. By
the house is very good but there is a short trail to the field
viewing area to the north that has zero light sources
HARBOR
Harbor Beach - Township -
Even with the town lights and the car lights the view of the
sky here is good and familiar constellations and planets can
be identified. Room for lots of improvement.
Whiskey Point - STJ, Central Michigan U., Remains the best example of the need for improvement in the sky quality in the Harbor. Too many unnecessary, unshielded light fixtures withthe wrong color bulbs.

A Video from the Past

copyright 2004 by Phillip Michael Moore

About seventeen years ago, the director of Beaver Island EMS was Joe Moore. His son Phillip Michael Moore was in a Master's Degree program in Broadcast and Cinematic Arts at Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant. It just so happened that the video project for his degree was to be a documentary about BIEMS and the need for a local air ambulance. His video was very professionally done.

It also happened that his grandfather, Phil Gregg, happened to have a heart attack while Michael was on the island filming for this documentary. Lots of volunteer EMS people are shown in this video, along with some of the patients, of course with their permission. The documentary was completed in 2004, prior to the second paramedic class taught on Beaver Island, so some of the current EMS providers were not in this documentary.

At the time of the filming, BIEMS was a volunteer EMS agency with people getting paid only a small amount for each emergency to help cover their gas expenses for participating in an emergency call. Some of them are listed here: Jim Stambaugh, Tim McDonough, Cindy Cushman, Gerald LaFreniere, and others. The "32 Miles of Water" title of the documentary referred to the miles from Beaver Island to the mainland hospitals of Charlevoix and Petoskey.

The Beaver Island community is so fortunate to now have Island Airways with a FAA certified air ambulance that has been operating for more than ten years now. At the time this video was made, the only emergency flights were done by Northflight EMS out of Traverse City, Michigan, or the US Coast Guard helicopter, also out of Traverse City. Sarah McCafferty was the EMS director and then Danielle Dedloff when the BIEMS licensed the Welke Aviation 866JA Britten Norman Islander aircraft with the State of Michigan as an air transport vehicle under the BIEMS agency license. This is the most efficient method of getting a patient off Beaver Island and to a hospital when an emergency occurs.

The concern 17 years ago was the time necessary to get the patient to the mainland hospital with the Golden Hour being the popular EMS period of getting the patient to the operating room within this 60 minute period of time. With the flight time from Traverse City to Beaver Island being almost an hour, this Golden Hour was taken up just getting the aircraft here. Now, with the Island Airways aircraft here on the island, the time to Charlevoix Airport or Harbor Springs Airport is less than 20 minutes or less than half the time to get the plane to the island from Traverse City.

The modern advanced life support agency, completed by a locally based air transport capability makes the island quite capable of transporting a patient within this Golden Hour, but only if the local aircraft and local pilot are available. Thank you, Paul Welke and Island Airways for you commitment to helping BIEMS accomplish this goal.

This video is seventeen years old, or thereabouts, but the accomplishments can still be applauded. Great job and thank you to all the volunteers that allowed this service to accomplish many successes. It has only been four and half years that the BIEMS is now a paid paramedic ALS agency, and the same challenges are still with us here today. The work of all those in the past to get this system set up in an efficient manner cannot be ignored. Great job to all the volunteers!

View this documentary from 2004 HERE

Transfer Station Website Up and Running

August 19, 2020

View the website HERE

The Founding Documents for the Airport Commission

The Intergovernmental Agreement

The Rules for Procedure

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