Winter made an abrupt appearance on the island this weekend with up to 5 inches of snow in some places and chilly temperatures everywhere.  Wouldn’t a nice, new Kubota be a handy accessory in that new snow? You could win one in our annual fund raising raffle, but ime is quickly running out on your chance.  Only 2 weeks left to buy tickets and only 1,200 will be sold.  You can buy tickets at the BIC center  on Monday through Friday from 1-5pm and on Saturdays from 9am-9pm.  They’re also available from any PABI board member.  Something to remember:  the Preservation Association of Beaver Island, which runs WVBI and the BIC Center, is 100% non-tax payer funded.  We rely on fundraisers to provide services to the island, and all proceeds from the Kubota go to help continue to provide services for our wonderful and unique community.

This weekend we have special events planned with the Beaver Island Historical Society to commemorate the sinking of the Carl D. Bradley 50 years ago on November 18th. We’ll remember the members of the crew that were lost as well as their families.  At 3:00 p.m. on Saturday we’ll show a documentary about the tragedy and its impact on Rogers City, the Bradley’s home port.  That will be followed by the premiere screening of a BIHS interview with Frank Mays, one of just two survivors of the sinking and the only one still alive. He was interviewed this summer by Dick Mulvihill.  Dick will be present for the showing along with a panel of islanders who were here when the Bradley went down.  They’ll share their memories of the event and take questions.

On Thanksgiving two blockbusters will be showing in the McDonough’s Market Theater.  At 3:00 we’ll have Incredibles 2 and at 7:00 the feature show will be Crazy Rich Asians.

Please remember that we’ve switched to our off-season hours, so on Mondays through Fridays the BIC Center is open from 9am-5pm and 9 to 9 on Saturdays.  Regular events include the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program upstairs in “Carol’s Hangout” on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10 to 11, Pickle Ball on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 to noon and Games Galore on Thursdays from 1 to 4.  And, throughout the winter, Dawn George with the Council on Aging (COA) will be providing arthritis services and senior meal coupons from her office upstairs from 9am-2pm (weekdays).

And finally, there is a rumor that Santa and Mrs. Clause will be in town and possibly stop by the Community Center to chat with the Island’s young ones. If we find this rumor to be true and when this could happen, we’ll be sure to let you know!