BelowThe Northern Lights were visible on Beaver Island, March 13 and 14th, 2021 and clearly seen with the naked eye as a white gleaming display of towers and bars across the harbor.  Glimpsed as a pearly spread of light across the Northern tip of the island and farther,  skywatchers saw the lights rise up and down from 9 pm-1:00 am on both nights from the St. James Township Campground, down East Side Road, Sloptown road and from behind the CMU boathouse.  
In the camera, a long shutter exposure captures and reveals the colors not seen by the naked eye,  as illustrated above and below in the phots by Cynthia Hector-Johnson, editor of the NorthernIslander news.  Watch for more geo-magnetic activity beginning March 18th and onward, as the earth experiences a new cycle of solar activity that sometimes causes amazing displays of this un-earthly phenomenon. Below:  as seen in the camera and with plain eyeballs...

The vaccine rollout is being centrally managed, federal to state to county/regional health departments. Health department of Northwest Michigan is the group that’s had jurisdiction for vaccination clinics and is the one with access to supply. The health center has been completing all the necessary paperwork to provide the vaccine once it’s available for local distribution. The White House just (March 11th) ordered that health centers will now be able to provide the vaccine to rural and under served communities.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/.../fact-sheet-president.../
“Community Health Centers: Today, the Administration announced that over the next six weeks the Administration will deliver vaccines directly to up to an additional 700 community health centers that reach underserved communities, increasing the total number of participating community health centers across the country to 950. These health centers serve low income and minority patients, provide services to rural communities and Tribal communities, and many will utilize mobile vans to deliver services.“     Link to the Official Website:  Fact Sheet: President Biden to Announce All Americans to be Eligible for Vaccinations by May 1, Puts the Nation on a Path to Get Closer to Normal by July 4th | The White House

Covid-19 delayed the process of a grant that would have completed improvements to the St. James Township campground this Spring.  The grant was extended and now St. James Township Board members and the planning commission forged through paperwork and more delays to keep the project going.  The campground will be closed and the completion not known until the bidding process is completed as soon as possible.  Bid packages were available at the township offices and work will go forward once that process is completed.   More information to come soon!

Hurry and register for exciting classes at CMU this summer on Dark Sky Island!  "Anyone can register for one of our workshops, you do not have to be a CMU student.  Workshops we are offering this summer, says CMU Director at Beaver Island,  John Gordon. 
Beaver Island Bird Diversity during Migration (2 credits)
Introduction to Observational Astronomy (1 credit)
Stream Ecology (1 credit)
Emerging Issues in Water Resources (1 credit)  Read more for information on the Astronomy class...

COVID-19]Vaccine eligibility dropping to 50 soon

Governor Whitmer’s press secretary said today that Michiganders 50 years
and older who have “preexisting conditions, disabilities and other medical vulnerabilities” will become eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine Monday, March 8.  Two weeks later, all over 50 will b eligible to sign up.  After a shaky start, the state is moving along at a fast pace with vaccinations. Last Thursday was a record setting day with almost 80,000 shots delivered in one day.  SO far, 2.3 million doses have been delivered across the state.
 
Information on where to sign up when you become eligible is available on the WVBI COVID-19 info page, and we’ll plan to report it here on the 8th.  No word yet from the Health Department of Northwest Michigan on when the next island vaccination clinic will be.

Beaver Island Dark Sky Project Files Sanctuary Application
International recognition sought for island’s unique dark skies.
BEAVER ISLAND, MI (January 25, 2021)—After a six month preparation process and about two years from the first glimmer of the idea, the Beaver Island Dark Sky Project working through the island’s Chamber of Commerce and Beaver Island Association, has filed an application with the International Dark Skies Association (IDA) for recognition of about a third of the island as a Dark Sky Sanctuary.  Chamber President Paul Cole, who helped lead the effort, says the idea got its start with Bill Markey and Dick McEvoy after a dark sky presentation to summer visitors. “The idea bounced around for a bit and then late this summer we organized a small group to get the application done,” he said.  The proposed sanctuary lands encompass part of a Michigan DNR Wildlife Division research area on the island.  “We got in touch with the DNR and discussed the value to the island of the designation and our mutual interest in preserving the natural dark skies in the research area as well as the rest of the island. They quickly offered their support.” The Sanctuary is planned to include a research area managed by Central Michigan University, which has a classroom and research facilities on the island, as well as the newly established Beaver Head Light House Park, which is owned by Charlevoix County. 

COOKIE CARNIVAL IS ON!
MaryEllen Dawson reports the annual fundraiser for Gregg Fellowship Cookie Carnival will forge onward with tasty boxes of cookies for all
—PRE-ORDERED!!
Please participate in this very important fundraising event by ordering fabulous sugar cookies with icing,  the famous nutmeg logs, mint brownies and more.
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COOKIE CARNIVAL CHANGE OF PLANS!! Due to the rise in cases of Covid 19, we would like everyone to remain safe on the Island, so our plans for Cookie Carnival are as follows. We will have Cookie Carnival BY ORDER ONLY. Orders can be picked up on December 12 from 11-2. If paying with a check, make it out to “BICC.” Order/price sheets will be placed around the community for you to pick up. Fill out the order with your name and phone # and take it to Kathy Speck. There will be a drop box on Kathy’s back deck ON PINE ST. for the order sheets. Orders can also be placed with Kathy by phone 448-2393. Order sheets will be placed for your convenience at the following businesses: McDonoughs Market, Community Center, Resale Shop, Island Energies Gas Station, Powers Hardware and on BI Christian Church website: bichristianchurch.com. All orders must be received by Kathy no later than Monday December 7th. We are very excited to be able to fill the homes in the community with all sorts of delicious treats for the Christmas season. We hope everyone will understand the reason for our decision. The best part is “We get to make cookies and you get to eat them.

​Is Hog Harvesting a definition of sustainability?  Yes. Sustainability is a term that has been bandied about quite frequently lately, oftentimes with no clear definition or relation explained.
Try this one. You must feed your family. To do that, you have to kill an animal.  Butchering and processing the resulting FOOD feeds your family.  Knowing how to do it right,  may save your life as well.

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For some,  the recent Hog Harvest workshop at Flattail Furs Farm with guest instructor, Mike Baker was an adventure into an experience they never had. For others, a lesson in preparing fresh meat for cooking or serving,  making sausage, prosciutto and charcuterie.
For hog-raisers intending to harvest and butcher in the near future, either without a nearby processor or for their own expertise,  the workshop was worth a trip from Tennessee and Wyoming. Find out why inside…(Photos by MayPole Studios, Bethany Fritz)
 

FOSSILSWhat are they?  Where do they come from?How do they form? How many different kinds of fossils can you find on Beaver Island?  Where do you find them?That’s a secret!The fossil at right is beautifully formed from shells and actually a large stone worthy of a museum piece. At left, Cynthia Hunting’s collection of fossils gathered over many years with children and grandchildren on Beaver Island.