With a Gale Warning in effect until 1:00 and up to nine-footers predicted on the route to and from the Island, BIBCO has pushed the departures for today to noon from Charlevoix and to 2:50 coming back.
The Emmet County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after human remains were found inside a home following a structure fire Sunday evening in Cross Village Township. While Emmet County Sheriff Matt Leirstein told the News-Review that the fire is suspicious, he said in a prepared statement that the death appears to be an isolated incident and there is no threat to the public.
The Great Lakes Islands Basketball Tournament brought three teams for our fellow Islands to B-I-C-S this weekend. Mackinac, Washington and Put-in-Bay were here to play and, all but Mackinac wound up stuck an extra day because of weather.
Washington Island in action against Put-in-Bay. Photos by Kevin Boyle
Meanwhile on Saturday over at the G-F-C. the annual Christmas Cookie Carnival was underway with lots of choice including new choices and lots of island specialties that have been part of the roundup for many years. There were multiple dozens of pre-orders package and ready to go, plus lots to choose from for Carnival shoppers.
Carnival Cookie Master Makers Meister and Mitchell present the cookie making group’s wares. Photos (and taste testing) by Kevin Boyle
The Irish Heritage Group has a new podcast out. This one presents this year’s Home for the Holidays Concert at the BIC Center. There’s a link to it in today’s script online.
https://thetidesthattie.buzzsprout.com/
The queen of Hearts is still in hiding at the Elks Lodge. Ron Marsh won the draw Saturday night, but picked the Ace of Diamonds. The pot is now almost $67,000. The lodge was busy on Sunday, too, with a pot luck pasta dinner to raise money for Laura Green’s battle with cancer.
Finally, a reminder that the deadline for the Toy Drive is today. You can drop off new, unwrapped toys at Welke Airport or get them to Connie or Neal at their house or in their cars.
Now, here’s a look at events happening on your Emerald Isle…
First your meeting planner…
A-A meets Saturday at 6:00 and next week Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday same time. Also next week, Waste Management Committee meets Tuesday at 1:30. Peaine Township Board meets that evening at 5:30. Library Board and JTAC meet Thursday at 4:30. That’s it on the meeting front through the end of next week and, for that matter, through end of the year save for A-A.
On the fun front today…
Monday is all you can eat pizza and salad night at the Shamrock.
Tuesday, there’s Pickleball at the BIC Center at 10:00, and Babes and Toddlers mix it up over at the library at 10:00. And in the Hang Out at the BIC Center, there’s Chair Strength Training at 10:30.
Highlights for the rest of the week include…
Wednesday, there’s bingo at the BIC Center at 1:00 in the Hangout. Wednesday evening it’s a Candlelit Christmas with the NoMi String Collective at the BIC Center. There’s no charge for admission, but you do need to reserve a seat at tickets dot bic center dot org. Showtime is 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, at 10:00, there’s pickleball in the theater and Tai Chi is in the Hangout both at the BIC Center and there is Women’s Bible Study at the Christian Church. Thursday evenings are Burger & a Beer Night at the Shamrock, plus Thursday Night is time for Euchre at Whiskey Point Brewery. Cards hit the table at 7:00. Also Thursday evening, the TUNES Holiday Recital is at the BIC Center at 7:00 p.m.
Friday gets underway with Senior + Vets Coffee + Donuts is on at the BIC Center from 9:00 to 11:00. Pickleball is at 10:00 in the Theater and Chair Strength Training is up in the Hangout at 10:30. And Friday afternoon at 1:20 the Emerald Isle heads to Charlevoix for her last trip of the season.
[On the radio, Kick off your weekend with our fantastic Friday lineup! After the 6:00pm news, enjoy “That Thing with Rich Appel” featuring top forty hits from the 70s. At 9:00pm, tune into “The Titus Jennings Experience” offering music from all genres, followed by “The Midnight Special” with Marilyn Rea Beyer at 11:00pm for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.]
On Saturday, the Fiero Code Club is on at the library at 1:00 with a new program alongside it called Girls that Code for girls in grades 3-12. At the BIC Center Saturday, a pair of Christmas movies are on tap. At 3:00 it’s Home Alone and at 6:00 It’s a Wonderful Life. Both are rated PG. It’s also Prime Rib Night at the Shamrock and, our Dark Skies will be especially dark Saturday Night with the New Moon.
[On the radio, tune in for Country Classics at 5:00 Saturday evening with host Sheri Timsak. At 7:00, Jackson Smith and Steve Girbach are in with Songs from the Trail. Mark Beltaire takes over at 9:00 with Rockin’ the Boat and continues at 10:00 with the Blues Cruise. Cousin Dan wraps up the evening with the Too Good Radio Show starting at 11:00.]
Sunday, there are services at the Christian Church at 10:00 and mass at Holy Cross at 12:15.
Looking ahead to highlights for next week…
Monday is all you can eat pizza and salad night at the Shamrock.
Tuesday, there’s Pickleball at the BIC Center at 10:00, and Babes and Toddlers mix it up over at the library at 10:00. And in the Hang Out at the BIC Center, there’s Chair Strength Training at 10:30.
Wednesday, there’s bingo at the BIC Center at 1:00 in the Hangout. Wednesday evening it’s a Candlelit Christmas with the NoMi String Collective at the BIC Center. There’s no charge for admission, but you do need to reserve a seat at tickets dot bic center dot org. Showtime is 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, at 10:00, there’s pickleball in the theater and Tai Chi is in the Hangout both at the BIC Center and there is Women’s Bible Study at the Christian Church. Thursday evenings are Burger & a Beer Night at the Shamrock, plus Thursday Night is time for Euchre at Whiskey Point Brewery. Cards hit the table at 7:00. Also Thursday evening, the TUNES Holiday Recital is at the BIC Center at 7:00 p.m.
And, next Friday is the last boat of the season.
NAME OF DAY: Today’s BIC Center Name of the Day is Irene. If that’s your name, come into the BIC Center to pick out a free drink of your choice, courtesy of your friends at the BIC Center and WVBI.
BIRTHDAYS: None on our list today. But, if we missed you on the list, Happy Birthday to you from everyone at WVBI and your Beaver Island Community Center.
TRAFFIC: No delays inbound or outbound to the airports. The Island Beltway is running smoothly and there are no bridge delays. But, the roads are super slick with yet another fresh coat of snow so, let’s be careful out there, especially in the school zone.
On this day in 1979, the curtain falls on Detroit’s Olympia Stadium. After 52 years and nearly 1,800 NHL games, the Red Wings play their final game there — a 4–4 tie against Quebec. From championship hockey to Elvis, the Beatles, and boxing legends, Olympia closes as one of hockey’s most storied arenas, making way for Joe Louis Arena. Also on this day in 1791, Virginia ratifies the first 10 amendments to the constitution bringing the Bill of Rights into law.
The Olympia marquee shows hockey Thursday and the Beach Boys Saturday. Image from wikipedia.org
Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is dreidel (noun) [DRAY-dul]. A dreidel is a four-sided spinning top used in a Hanukkah game of chance. Each side bears a Hebrew letter that together mean “a great miracle happened there,” recalling the oil that burned for eight days in Jerusalem. Spin the top, follow the letter, and play for gelt under the glow of the menorah.
Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Monday…
Here’s a thought for the day from Bill of Rights proponent James Madison: “Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.”
On a lighter note…
How do elves communicate with one another? Through their elf phones.
That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Monday, December 15th, 2025. I’m Kevin Boyle reporting from W-V-B-I’s Langford Family Studios wishing you a great day and asking you: why not go ahead and make it the best day ever? And thanks for listening.
###
Today
Snow showers likely, mainly before 1pm. Cloudy, with a steady temperature around 24. Breezy, with a west wind 20 to 25 mph decreasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Tonight
Mostly cloudy, with a steady temperature around 24. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday
Cloudy, with a high near 39. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph.
Tuesday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. Windy, with a southwest wind 25 to 35 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph.
Wednesday
Partly sunny, with a high near 36. Breezy, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.
Wednesday Night
A 30 percent chance of showers after 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 28. Breezy.
Thursday
Rain showers before 1pm, then rain and snow showers. High near 40. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Thursday Night
A chance of snow showers before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 14. Windy.
Friday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 27. Blustery.
Friday Night
Snow showers likely, mainly after 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 18. Windy.
Saturday
A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36. Breezy.
Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 28.
Air Quality Index this morning was 0.
Out on the Big Drink…
Today-Gale Warning until 1, then watch for rest of day
SW wind 25 to 30 kt becoming WNW 15 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 35 kt. Snow, mainly before 2pm. Widespread freezing spray before 1pm. Waves 9 ft subsiding to 3 ft.
Tuesday
SSW wind 15 to 20 kt increasing to 25 to 30 kt in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 40 kt. Cloudy. Waves 2 ft building to 9 ft.
Wednesday
WNW wind 10 to 20 kt becoming SSW in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 kt. Partly sunny. Waves 5 ft subsiding to 1 ft.
Thursday
S wind 25 to 30 kt becoming W in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 40 kt. Rain before noon, then rain and snow. Waves 7 to 9 ft.
Friday
NNW wind 10 to 20 kt becoming SSW in the afternoon. Mostly cloudy. Waves 1 to 3 ft.
Photos from webcams at wvbi.net and mackinacbridge.org
Coming up in our Community Calendar Report…
Gale-force winds are reshaping today’s ferry schedule, with BIBCO delaying Island departures as nine-foot waves roll across the straits. Investigators are working to learn more after human remains were found following a suspicious house fire in Cross Village Township. Plus — Island basketball teams ride out the weather, the Cookie Carnival serves up holiday favorites, a new Irish Heritage podcast drops, the Queen of Hearts jackpot climbs, and today’s the last chance to donate to the Toy Drive.
All of those stories plus a run-down of local events, birthdays and more all after this global and national news update from F-S-N. It’s [timecheck].
Today’s featured image: Carnival Cookie Master Makers Meister and Mitchell present the cookie making group’s wares. Photos (and taste testing) by Kevin Boyle
