Credit to Chris Kolber
Severe Weather in March
In early March, severe weather swept through southwest Michigan, with an EF-1 tornado starting in Edwardsburg, and an EF-2 tornado hitting Three Rivers. A tornado that began in Edwardsburg carved a path of destruction before finally dissipating just southwest of Birch Lake near the intersection of Sears Street and Walnut Road. From the north shore of Birch Lake, Chris Kolber captured a striking video looking toward Williamsville, where the distinct shape of the funnel cloud. The official National Weather service description of the tornados can be found here.
2026 Spring Dinner
Don’t miss this year’s Spring Dinner! It’s the perfect chance to reconnect with your Birch Lake neighbors, share stories from the off-season, and celebrate the long-awaited return of lake days.
Hotel Elkhart Aria Ballroom
Saturday, May 16, 2026
5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Plated Dinner Menu:
Gala Apple Salad
Chicken Marsala
Creme Brulee Cheesecake
Price: $43 per person, Cash bar
2026 BLYC Memberships
We are excited to introduce a new membership platform this year for BLYC memberships! This platform – called JoinIt – allows us to take online membership payments, collect donations, and take payments for events like the Spring Dinner. JoinIt also gives us an online directory that is only accessible to current BLYC members.
You can sign up for your 2026 BLYC membership today! Click here to go to JoinIt to sign up. When you get to the JoinIt page, make sure to click the blue “JOIN” button under the membership type you’re interested in. Don’t click log in at the top right of the page, because you won’t be in the system if you haven’t joined yet).
There is also a step-by-step tutorial found here. We highly recommend you check out the tutorial, which contains instructions on how to make donations or purchase Spring Dinner tickets without paying processing fees!
Commodore’s Comments
Birch Lake was fortunate to escape without injury or damage, after a close brush with a deadly tornado on March 7. The tornado apparently lifted up in or near Williamsville, just before crossing over Birch Lake, during the storm that caused four fatalities, one in Edwardsburg and three in Union City. It was a sobering reminder of how precious life truly is. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of those who lost their lives, their loved ones, or their homes in that terrible storm.
In only 6 more weeks, the BLYC social season will open with the always-popular Spring Dinner. Ticket sales have started off strong, so why not get yours right now? The Commodore / Vice Commodore party will be the season opener for events inside the clubhouse, on Saturday, May 30. Sandy Vitale asks me to inform you that donations of wine or beer to the clubhouse stock will be welcome, but there is already plenty of liquor. And as noted prominently in the Birch Barker, NO BLYC MONEY is spent on alcohol.
The BLYC executive committee will hold its next and final off-season meeting on April 12, and the first meeting of the full Board will be on May 23. The BLYC summer events calendar has been updated with the addition of two more Card / Game Nights for a total of four fun events, which will now be held monthly, June through September – many thanks to co-chairs Dave and Donna Hogoboom and Sue Davis!
The Bad Patty Crockpot Challenge, held in September, is in need of one of you to act as event chair, so if you have been thinking of getting in on the fun, this is a great opportunity! Just let any officer or board member know of your interest. A proposed new event, Bingo Night, had to be cancelled. The BLYC is a 501(c)(7) organization, and while we had previously been informed that a 501(c)(7) can qualify for a bingo license in the State of Michigan, it turns out that this only applies to 501(c)(7)’s that are local chapters of state or national organizations, so that rules us out.
The ongoing Poker Run survey now stands at 9 to 1 in favor of holding a Poker Run, so let your voice be heard by answering the survey – Tim and Chris Cole want to hear from as many of you as possible. And while you’re at it, please know that fireworks donations for the year are currently at $1045, water quality is at $945, and the general fund and all of our great causes need your help too. Thank you!
250 years ago this month in U.S. history:
On April 7, 1776, the USS Lexington captured the HMS Edward, after a battle off the coast of Virginia. This victory over a ship of the greatest navy in the world was a big morale-booster for the Americans. Since then, four other ships of the US Navy have proudly carried the name USS Lexington. Here is a link to the story of the adventures of the very first USS Lexington during the Revolutionary War.
~Commodore Steve Frew
Fleet Captain’s Corner
It seems that Spring has sprung. The ice has melted, and the dock companies have gotten an early start. In driving around the lake, I’ve noticed several piers and lifts have started to go in. Spring is a time to prepare for the coming summer. Finish cleaning up from the fall, do the projects to prepare for the upcoming year, and get your boats and piers prepared and in.
No different for us sailors. Spring is the time to take inventory, do minor fixes or adjustments to your sailboats, “in hopes of getting a little faster,” and last but not least, get your sailboats in and masts up. It is a little more of a process to get the mast up on an MC vs a Sunfish.
As a result, several years ago, past Fleet Captain and current Commodore Steve Frew organized a Mast Up event in May. This is a day when several sailors go around the lake and help the MC sailors raise their masts. I hope to do the same this year. I will send out an email to the sailors on my sailing list about this event. But I wanted to open it up to others. If you’re not on the regular mailing list and need help getting your masts up, please reach out to me. We would be happy to help; many hands make for easier work.
FC Bob Niezgodski
PS.
A reminder that the Kidz Regatta is earlier this year on June 27th at the Caplis’s house on the north shore. Mark your calendars and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
~ F.C. Bob Niezgodski
Return of the Spaghetti Dinner
The Birch Lake Yacht Club is gearing up for the 2026 Spaghetti Dinner on Saturday, June 13th, and we need your help to make it a success! This beloved community event brings friends and neighbors together for a great meal and even better company—but it takes a team of volunteers to make it all happen.
We’re looking for helping hands to assist with setup (6/12) serving, cleanup, and everything in between. Whether you can give a few hours or the whole evening, your time and energy will make a meaningful difference.
Volunteering is also a great way to connect with fellow members, meet new people, and support one of the club’s favorite traditions. No experience is necessary—just a willingness to pitch in and have fun.
If you’re interested in volunteering, please reach out to Deb Spratt at debspratt@comcast.net or 574-276-8783 or Peggy Geik at 574-274-4839. We truly appreciate your support and look forward to working together to make this year’s Spaghetti Dinner a wonderful event!
Nelson’s Port-A-Pit Fundraiser
Join us for a delicious Nelson’s Port-A-Pit fundraiser and treat yourself to some amazing BBQ while supporting a great cause! Preorders are now open for mouthwatering options including 1/2 Chicken for $10.00, Pork Chops for $10.00, Ribs for $11.00, and Potatoes for $4.00.
All orders will be available for convenient pickup at the Waxman’s house (East Side) on Friday, July 3, 2026, between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Please note that this is a preorder-only event, so be sure to secure your meal in advance!
Events
Potential Poker Run Event
We are trying to gauge interest in a Poker Run event to benefit the Fireworks Fund. Please fill out this survey to let us know what you think of this idea!
More Free Trees
Hello, and happy spring!
Many of you had trees planted on your properties through our Planting Trees for Clean Water project last fall. I hope your trees fared well over the winter and will start budding out soon! We will be doing another round of planting this spring, and you are welcome to sign up for more trees if you have space.
Like last fall, you are eligible to participate if you have property on Round, Gravel, and Eagle Lakes in Van Buren County or Harwood, Birch, and Baldwin Lakes in Cass County. Please pass this message along to any neighbors who might be interested.
If you would like to participate this spring, please fill out the interest form at https://tinyurl.com/lakestrees2026 as soon as possible.
The Michigan Lakes and Streams Association recently hosted a webinar where they shared information about the importance of planting trees near waterways and specifics about this project. The webinar is available for viewing at your convenience at this link: Planting Trees for Clean Water – Spring Webinar.
For more information, contact watershed@VanBurenCD.org or AgConservation@vanburencd.org.
This project is funded by a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which are equal opportunity providers. For more information on Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Projects, visit glri.us.
2026 BLYC Calendar
Click here to add the BLYC calendar of events to your Google Calendar. The calendar will be updated if events change.
- May 16, 2026 – Spring Dinner at Hotel Elkhart, 5pm
- May 23 – BLYC Board Meeting
- May 23-25 – Memorial Day Regatta
- May 30 – Commodore / Vice Commodore Party + Stock the Bar
- June 6 – Trivia Night
- June 10 – Card / Game Night
- June 13 – Spaghetti Dinner
- June 20 – BLYC Board Meeting
- June 27 – Kidz Regatta
- July 3 – Port-a-Pit Fundraiser
- July 4 – Boat Parade
- July 4 – Fireworks
- July 4-6 – Fourth of July Regatta
- July 5 – Pancake Breakfast
- July 15 – Card / Game Night
- July 18 – BLYC Board Meeting
- July 18 – Big Outdoor Daytime Screen
- July 24 – Ladies’ Golf Outing
- July 25 – Poker Run
- July 31 – Men’s Golf Outing
- August 1 – Corn & Sausage Roast
- August 15 – BLYC Board Meeting
- August 15 – Homeowner’s Association Annual Meeting
- August 19 – Card / Game Night
- August 22 – Fall Dinner
- August 26 – Women’s Style Show
- September 5-6 – Labor Day Regatta
- September 9 – Card / Game Night
- September 12 – Sailing Awards
- September 19 – BLYC Board Meeting
- September 26 – Bad Patty Crockpot Challenge
Board meetings take place at 9 a.m. on Saturday mornings at the Yacht Club, and are open to all lake residents.
Public Service Announcements
Update Your Email Preferences
You can choose which emails you want to receive from the Birch Barker! Please click here to update your email preferences.
BLYC Directory
Corrections and updates to the new directory? Send any updates to birchbarker1@gmail.com and we’ll publish them here for folks to update their directories.
Kids of the Month
Click on the images to enlarge
Sue Davis made the trip down to Hilton Head to visit with Jill Scholes. Friends for 59 years, and looking forward to another summer at the lake.
Birch Lake neighbors who escaped winter to meet in Kissimmee Florida. Dinner at Miller’s Ale House, and toast to good times in Florida.
Dave & Terry Carroll, Mike & Paula Russell, Dave & Donna Hogoboom, Tom & Vickie Rogers.
🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍
Please share your own kids (or pets or whatever!) to be featured in an upcoming issue. You can email them to birchbarker1@gmail.com.
Classifieds
For Sale: 2006 Pontiac Solstice. 2nd owner. 38,000 miles. $9000 call Bob Waddle 269-365-7696
Free. Washer and electric dryer. Both work perfectly – I did a load of laundry right before moving them out of the house. Email amber.grundy@gmail.com
Services: I do sewing and mending at fair prices – zippers, hemming, small alterations; call Kathy at 269-476-9317.
For Rent: Cottage on west side of Birch Lake for rent. Out of town guests or friends who want to experience Birch lake, there are some dates still available. Call Sue Davis at 574-993-6031 or Patrick Davis at 574-707-5701.
Barker Funnies
click on each image to enlarge
