November 2026 – Birch Lake Yacht Club

*Autumn Visitor*
Photo credit to Phil Vitale

Trick-or-Treating

A group of about 16 excited trick-or-treaters had a blast visiting the 34+ homes that signed up to be part of the 2026 trick-or-treat event! We had beautiful weather which made it even more enjoyable (especially for the grown ups!). Thank you to everyone who participated and handed out treats to our kids (and some for the parents, too). And thank you to the Sniders (cove) for hosting the post trick-or-treat party at their home and pulled the trailer for the kids. If anyone has photos from Saturday night, please email to birchbarker1@gmail.com!

Christmas Crawl

The Christmas Crawl Returns on Sunday, December 6 at 5:00pm

Calling all Lakers! This year’s Christmas Crawl will start on Sunday, December 6 at 5:00pm at Tom and Vickie Rogers’ home (Cove) with appetizers. Then at 6:00pm we will be shifting down the street to Mike and Julie Sheffieck’s home (West) for desserts. No RSVP needed — just come dressed for the holidays and bring the beverage of your choice.

How can you help? If you can contribute any appetizers to the cause, please contact Vickie Rogers at 269-476-2383 to make arrangements. And if you can bring any desserts, please contact Mike Sheffieck at 708-220-1506 to pass the news. Many helping cooks and bakers make for a better event.

Come and celebrate the 2026 holidays with your friends and neighbors on Sunday, December 6!

Commodore’s Comments

We are coming to the end of October with just a couple of days until Halloween, and the plans are set for the lake’s trick-or-treating Saturday Night. A very special thanks to Lori and Andy Snider and Amber Holleman for making it a special day for the lake kids and residents. I will be finalizing the schedule for next year soon and will have it ready for next month. On a sadder note, we have lost a couple more of our lake family in Jim Bergan and Judi Gaik. All of our thoughts and prayers are with their families.

On a happier note, if you look outside, you would think that it is spring instead of fall, with the start of winter just around the corner. The weather has been nice, and all of the boats and piers are coming out, and many of us are leaving for our winter hangouts. For the year-rounders, everything is quieting down.

To give everyone an update, the special committee appointed at the last Birch Lake Yacht Club Board meeting has had its initial meeting and is working to form a subsidiary 501c3 water quality fund. The committee is comprised of the Executive Board, the President of the Homeowners Association, and the Chairperson of the Water Quality Committee. The committee, with the help of a lawyer, has started work on the Articles of Incorporation and will then work on the Bylaws to cover how it will operate. We are moving ahead and will keep everyone informed as we move forward. I thought as we moved to the off-season things would slow down, but they haven’t. What a surprise. Hope everyone has a great fall and a happy Thanksgiving.

~Commodore Ron Niezgodski

Fleet Captain’s Corner – Fall on the Lake

There’s not a lot to report on sailing this month, but fall is one of my favorite seasons. Fall on the lake reminds us why we live here. The maples along the shoreline have turned bright red and orange, the oaks are going gold and rust, and on a calm morning the whole lake reflects the colors back like a painting.

It’s getting quieter, too. Many residents have already left for warmer places for the winter. The weather has been surprisingly warm so far and those of us still here with boats in the water have been able to get out on the lake. There are fewer boats out each week, though there has even been a crazy individual or two water skiing late into October. Boats, piers, and the rest of the water toys keep coming out, and soon the lake will be cleared for the winter.

The days may be warm, but the temperature still drops a lot at night. The water is getting colder, and the mornings are cool and crisp. The leaves have started to fall, so more of our time will soon go to leaf pickup. The farmers have had a great fall with dry conditions and have been working hard at harvesting.

The migratory birds are on their way, too. Soon the loons, buffleheads, and coots will be stopping by on their way south. Then everyone knows what’s next.

~FC Bob Niezgodski

Barker Content Submissions

If you have any content to submit for the Barker – online or in print – please send it to birchbarker1@gmail.com. I try to keep all Barker-related content in one place so that nothing gets forgotten when it’s time to assemble it for the Barker. If you send information to my personal email or via text message or Facebook messenger, it may not make it into the Barker! It’s really helpful if all Barker-related messages go to my Barker-specific email. Thakn you! ~Amber

Events

2027 BLYC Calendar

The tentative 2027 dates are coming soon! Click here to add the BLYC calendar of events to your Google Calendar. The calendar will be updated if events change.

Board meetings take place at 9 a.m. on Saturday mornings at the Yacht Club from May through September, and are open to all lake residents.

Christmas Crawl

Begins Sunday, December 6 at 5:00pm at Tom and Vickie Rogers’ house (cove). More details on the left.

Christmas at the Bonine House

Public Service Announcements

Power Loading Boats

Please remember as you’re taking your boats out for the season to not power load it on to your trailer. This damages the ramp at the boat launch!

Turtle Signs

Time to put away your “Slow Down” signs for the winter!

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.

Corrections to the 2026 Directory

Marsha Williams (east shore): correct email is marwillims@gmail.com

Nina Frurip (east shore): correct phone number is 989-859-4773 (not 4774)