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It’s bitter cold outside this morning. After dipping to 5 degrees for the overnight low, we’re at 7 at 9:00 this morning and not expecting to get above 15 by the end of the day. We could warm up a bit tomorrow with a high of 21, but then it is back into the freezer for the balance of the week with lows in the single digits or below zero- and single-digit highs through Saturday. Bundle up if you are outside (or might get stuck outside). Bitter cold is on the way. NWS Graphic form Gaylord NWS Office
The U.S. Coast Guard is closing additional northern waterways as ice builds across the Great Lakes. Waters between Mackinac Island and St. Ignace will close Tuesday afternoon to help form the ice bridge. Later this week, parts of the St. Marys River will also shut down. The Coast Guard urges ice users to stay clear of shipping channels and use caution.
The Little Traverse Conservancy is reflecting on its work in 2025, saying it marked the largest land-protection year in its 53-year history. Partnering with the state, the conservancy helped protect nearly 9,000 acres added to the Pigeon River State Forest. Overall, more than 11,000 acres were conserved across northern Michigan, with major shoreline, forest, and trail projects — including new protections on Beaver Island. Volunteer participation also surged, up nearly 90 percent last year.
Coming up Friday, January 31st, the Beaver Island Irish Heritage Group is hosting a free St. Brigid’s Day and Imbolc celebration at the Beaver Island Community Center. It’ll run from noon to 1:30. The event celebrates the return of the light with seed-sowing demonstrations, traditional St. Brigid’s cross-making, and Irish cultural activities. Light refreshments will be provided. You need to register at tickets dot bic center dot org.
St. Brigid’s Day events are planned for the 31st at the BIC Center. Graphic from Beaver Island Irish Heritage Group
The 11th annual Lake G Ice Fishing Tournament is set for Saturday, February 21st. Organizers are now seeking donations and sponsors to help fund the event and prizes. Ice conditions are looking good this year. Reach out to the Wildlife Club if you’d like to help support the tournament.
The Wild Strawberry Café has delayed their reopening date until the 27th. They’ll return to normal winter hours then.
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Now, here’s a look at events happening on your Emerald Isle…
First your meeting planner…
Waste Management Committee meets today at 1:30. Peaine Township Board meets this evening at 5:30. A-A meets Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 6:00. Locations and more details are in the calendar entries online.
On the fun front today…
Tuesday, Babes and Toddlers mix it up at the library at 10:00. At the BIC Center, there’s Pickleball at 10:00 in the Theater and Chair Strength Training in the Hangout at 10:30.
Wednesday, the Islander basketball squads head off to take on Ojibwe for morning make-up games. There’s BINGO at the BIC Center at 1:00. The BOBI book club meets at the library at 3:00 to discuss Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. At 5:00 it’s Time for Art, also at the BIC Cener. This week, it’s time to make Valentines Day Cards in a session lead by Leila Freijy. There are limited seats, so check with the front desk to see if there is room.
Highlights for the rest of the week include…
Thursday Women’s Bible Study is on at 10:00 at the Christian Church. There’s Pickleball at the BIC Center at 10:00. That’s in the theater. At 10:30 up in the Hangout there’s Chair Strength Training. Thursday evening, you can grab the burger & a beer special at the Shamrock starting at 5:00, and its Euchre Night down at Whiskey Point Brewing. Cards hit the table at 7:00. In our Dark Skies, the waxing crescent moon will pay a visit to the steady golden light of Saturn this evening and again tomorrow evening. They’ll set before midnight. There’s more info at dark sky island dot org.
Friday, Senior + Vets Coffee & Donuts is at the BIC Center from 9:00 to 11:00. There’s Pickleball at 10:00 and Chair Strength Training at 10:30. Basketball action will take the Islanders to Big Bay for games Friday evening and Saturday morning. On the Island, it’s an open mic and karaoke night in the theater at the BIC Center with your host and frontman Herb Ledbetter. The stage light sup at 6:00. Call the Front Desk to Signup or just show up and jump in.
[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.]
Also Saturday, the Fiero Code Club is on at the library at 1:00. At 3:00 at the library there’s a planning session set for the next Beaver Tales show. This time the theme is Surviving on the Island as part of the library’s Big Read Project. They are targeting a show date in April. Meantime, over at the BIC Center, it’s a Wicked Double Trouble Double Feature. See Wicked at 3:00 and Wicked for Good at 6:00 with some special treats at the concession stand. Wands are optional. Both shows rated PG. And, remember, Saturdays are Prime Rib Night at the Shamrock.
[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, it’s All You Can Eat Pizza and Salad night at the Shamrock.
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NAME OF DAY: Today’s BIC Center Name of the Day is Colton. If that’s your name, come into the BIC Center to pick out a free drink of your choice.
BIRTHDAYS: On our Birthday list today: Kristy Bousquet and Julia Markey. Happy Birthday to Julia and Kristy, and if we missed you on the list, Happy Birthday to you too from everyone at WVBI and your Beaver Island Community Center. |
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TRAFFIC: No delays inbound or outbound to the airports. The Island Beltway is running smoothly and there are no bridge delays. But, hey, let’s be careful out there, especially in the school zone. |
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On this date in 1837, Michigan’s rail age began when the Erie and Kalamazoo Railroad put the state’s first steam locomotive into service, replacing horses on its Adrian-to-Toledo line. Depiction of the Erie and Kalamazoo Railroad‘s first locomotive pulling a car in 1837. Image from Wikimedia Commons |
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is quiddity (noun) [KWID-uh-tee]. A quiddity is the essence of something: what makes a thing what it is. The word can also mean a small, even trivial complaint, or a person’s quirky habit. Fittingly, its cousins include quintessence, quibble, and quirk. Quiddity comes from Latin roots meaning “what,” pointing straight to the question of what something truly is. |
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Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Tuesday… |
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Here’s a thought for the day from Bill Maher, who was born on this day in 1956: “If you think you have it tough, read history books.” |
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On a lighter note… What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire? Frostbite! |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Tuesday, January 20th, 2026. I’m Kevin Boyle reporting from W-V-B-I’s Langford Family Studios wishing you a great day and asking: why not go ahead and make it the best day ever? And thanks for listening. |
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Today-Cold Weather Advisory until 11:00 Mostly cloudy, with a high near 15. Wind chill values as low as -17. Windy, with a west wind 20 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Tonight Mostly cloudy, with a temperature falling to near 12 by 10pm, then rising to around 16 during the remainder of the night. Wind chill values as low as -7. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph. Wednesday A 30 percent chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a high near 21. North wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Wednesday Night A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 10. Wind chill values as low as -6. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph. Thursday Partly sunny, with a high near 14. Breezy, with a west wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Thursday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around -3. Breezy. Friday Mostly cloudy and cold, with a high near 5. Blustery. Friday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around -3. Saturday Partly sunny and cold, with a high near 8. Saturday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 1. Sunday Partly sunny, with a high near 12. Sunday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 4. Monday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 16. |
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Air Quality Index this morning was 0. |
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Photos from webcams at wvbi.net and mackinacbridge.org |
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Coming up in our Community Calendar Report…
The Coast Guard closes more Great Lakes waterways as ice builds, a record-setting conservation year for Northern Michigan that includes Beaver Island, St. Brigid’s Day celebrations coming to the BIC Center, the Lake G Ice Fishing Tournament update, and word on the Wild Strawberry Café reopening.
…all of that along with a run-down of local e vents, birthdays and more after global and national news from F-S-N. [Time check.] |
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Today’s featured image: Bitter cold is on the way. NWS Graphic form Gaylord NWS Office |
