​Songbird Garden
Friends and family of Caitlin Boyle have begun work to establish a songbird garden behind the library in her memory. If you would like to volunteer your time and skills, please let us know at island.library@gmail.com, so we can put you in touch with the right people.
 
If you would like to help support the work, or to assist in keeping the garden supplied with bird seed and other supplies going forward, please consider donating! Checks may be made out to BIDL (or Beaver Island District Library), and please be sure to include “Songbird” in the memo line to ensure the funds are aside for that purpose. (This is the same project previously posted about—we are simply streamlining the donation process.) Gifts can also be made through Paypal, using the Donate button on our homepage, www.bidl.org!   Read More About Library Events by Clicking the Read More Button!

It is starting to look like an Aurora Borealis Christmas…
It is true! Space and astronomy websites are predicting a Kp4 for December 19th and a Kp5 for December 25th, 2021. On a level of Kp1 to Kp10,  a Kp5 is a great level to glimpse Northern Lights.
 
That is not all you need to know. Location, conditions, and timing are all factors. And all are varying factors.
I will give you the essentials and tools I use to view the Northern Lights on a regular basis, as evidenced by the photos below. Disclaimer:  Aurora Borealis is completely unpredictable along with the weather in its behavior. Here are some websites and apps to investigate for accurate predictions. You may also want to sign up with these apps to receive Aurora Alerts.
https://cdn.softservenews.com/free-member/aurora-borealis-forecast-3-day-bar.html
https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/3-day-forecast
Be prepared to interpret unfamiliar information as evidenced here by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Association;  this shows UTC(Universal Time)  and more. You can also find 3 day and 27-day outlooks here.

From Catherine Sowa Meintsa:  "Well Beaver Island you did it! We have exceeded our goal. We started late in the year but we did it! All our veterans will have a wreath this year at both cemeteries. This is huge accomplishment for a cemetery. Not all cemeteries can accomplish this. Arlington National Cemetery does this but they also are helped because they are federally funded. This Island is amazing.   We have already added wreaths to next year’s order. Amazing!" Above,  Beaver Island Community Schools staff and students helped place the wreaths at both island cemeteries. 
Catherine made a quick trip over to deliver the wreaths and met up with Kathleen Belfy Antkoviak who helped organize and oversee the program this year.  Catherine also received this shoutout below from community members who participated in the program, bought wreaths or helped place them.  Many celebrations of life happened on December 13th at 2:00pm.  
"Shout out to Catherine for making the quick trip here to help with Wreaths Across America, to KK for her island help with the program and to all who helped place wreaths. The kids and Mrs. Robert were so much help, Jeanne of course, Alvin, and many more. They look great!" Here's another shoutout right back from Facebook from Catherine and crew:  "Shout out to my little Beaver Island community. We started very late in the fundraising year. We still managed to cover every veteran’s grave with a wreath this year. Not always an easy task in your first year. We even over shot our goal and already have 59 wreaths purchased for next year. Amazing. We had such a great turnout. Thank you to the Welkes (Paul Welke) for helping our wreaths make their final leg of their trip to the island. Thank you to my co-chairs Kathleen Belfy Antkoviak and Pam White O'Brien Thank you to the 4th,5th, and 6th grade classes. They colored wreaths and sent messages back with me for the Veteran’s Home. With so much compassion and respect they helped place our wreaths at both cemeteries. Their teacher Deborah LaFreniere Robert made it all possible. Many hands made beautiful work. Thank you all!"
​ Find out more about Wreaths Across America on this page...Click below or search Facebook.
(1) wreaths across america 2021 - Search Results | Facebook

From Lori Taylor Blitz, Beaver Island Historical society
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. Donations can be made via this GoFundMe page or mailed directly to the Beaver Island Historical Society, PO Box 263, Beaver Island, MI 49782.  Please note on your check "Beaver Head Lighthouse."  To reach the society via email: bihistory.director@gmail.com. Click the Link Below
Fundraiser by Beaver Island Historical Society (Beaver Island Historical Society) : Preserve the Beaver Head Lighthouse (gofundme.com)
 
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/programs/historic-preservation/glance.php
 
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/
 

​Beaver Island, Michigan
November 16, 2021
 
Beaver Island, Michigan is a tiny and close-knit community known for its assistance to community members in times of trouble.
Today, it is the swift actions of dozens that may save the grape crop of Kate Leese and Adam Kendall. The young couple perished on November 13th, 2021 in a tragic plane landing at Island Airways, Beaver Island, MI.  The couple died immediately, along with their family dogs,  Baker and Franklin and with the pilot,  William Julian of Traverse City.  Local family member Mike Perdue also lost his life in that crash,  while it is some good fortune that he sheltered and protected his 11-year-old daughter Laney and she is recovering in a nearby hospital.
For Kate and Adam,  it was the end of a beautiful dream as they led a life of travel, adventure, business and love that endeared them to all of Beaver Island over the past two years. That dream included Antho Wine Farm,  a place that Adam and Kate had declared a place of welcome and full hospitality.  Most islanders had already met Kate and Adam,  worked with them or been invited to gatherings at the farm.
In a Detroit News article just last week, on the couple’s birthdays Kate said, “Our goal is to have that kind of place that brings people together.” 

In that respect, their goal has been met. When the notice came that the couple’s family were arriving and that it would be possible to help save their grape crop,  the island people assembled dozens of workers to apply soil to the vines, then place pine boughs on top of the soil.  Bill McDonough of McDonough’s Market said, “The placement of the pine boughs will definitely capture and hold snow in place to protect the vines and hold nutrients and moisture in.”
It is impossible to name and thank all those who reached out to help the family upon arrival,  to help with transportation, loading cargo to the boat dock and most of all to offer the comfort that Kate and Adam were loved by all they encountered.  And to let them know Kate and Adam were well-loved and welcomed to the community by all.
In efforts to help the families of William Julian and Mike Perdue, the island has assisted with donations to Go Fund Me accounts on Facebook for both families. Click visit those websites for information and to donate.
Fundraiser for Christie Perdue by Friends of Perdue Family : Prayers for Perdues (gofundme.com)

William Francis Julian Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information (reynolds-jonkhoff.com)

Fundraiser by Bill Donberg : Help Support Katie and Betsy Julian (gofundme.com) 

At left, Daryl Butler hauling in soil to spread on the grapes, while others spread pine boughs.  Below, Chamber director, Paul Cole assists in spreading mulch on the vines.  

Beaver Island Dark Sky astro-photography Event
What are They all looking at? 
Photos below by Taffy Raphael, Becca Foli and Cynthia Johnson are all from an Astrophotography Workshop with Alex Mullins.  Alex travelled from Delaware, Ohio to teach members of the Dark Sky Committee and Taffy Raphael how to take pictures in Space.
Tony Miller, Astronomer contributed greatly to the project, aiding with the purchase of telescope parts, finding Alex Mullins and helping the committee coordinate efforts to create Dark Sky Events this year.
Cynthia Johnson, Point of Contact for the committee presented Michigan State Legislation recently passed declaring July 2021 as Michigan’s Official Dark Sky Month.  Johnson also said the Dark Sky Sanctuary Application is completed, thanks to some expert editing assistance from Anita Mauro, and the committee expects an announcement in October.  Read more about that application and status by clicking below. ​

    June 20, 2021  Solstice Celebration
 Nathan Altman and Sarah C. Mueller and crew erected a magnificent art sculpture at Paradise Bay, Beaver Island, Michigan today.  The Inner Sun Project sculpture was unveiled near the recently named “Best Harbor in the U.S. at Paradise Bay, Beaver Island.  Beaver Island Municipal Marina, North is next-door neighbor to the Inner Sun and the Beaver Island Chamber of Commerce.  Chamber director, Paul Cole was on hand with a small gathering of thirty people, just dropping in to see what was happening in the harbor.
Cole said, “Beaver Island has always possessed an “inner sun”  within its pristine environment,  peaceful and quiet shorelines and in the self-reliant and friendly people.  This sculpture adds more.”  Photos below,  Residents and visitors gather to view the sculpture.  Left, the hands.  Right,  Nathan Altman, securing the structure.
Why Beaver Island?

St. James Township Campground to Start Renovations in the Spring The St. James Township Campground, located just off Donegal Bay Road on Beaver Island, will begin a major renovation and addition of facilities this Spring. Currently the campground is for rustic camping only with a policy of “first come first served’; has three pit toilets; and a manual water pump which services 10 lovely rustic camp sites on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan.

​Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. In March, bids will go out for the addition and development of a full-service bath house with flush toilets, sinks and showers for both men and women. Six of the campsites will be upgraded to electric. While the rest of the camp sites will remain rustic, there are future plans to expand the number of rustic campsites to include a group gathering site which can house multiple tents and campers. The campground will be renovated with the plan ...Click below to read more...

​