Beaver Island Michigan

The mornings are cooling down, aren't they? The cat curls up into a ball on the end of the sofa. The dog stays on that old blanket under your bed a little bit longer. The floor chills the bottoms of your bare feet, and the hair on your arms lifts to cool sunlight shining through the kitchen window. You look into your loverâ??s over the table, through the steam from a hot cup of coffee. Your eyes lovingly communicate a shared thought, your finger tips touch, and you both jump up to race to another room to ...

the woodstoveâ??s cherry red chimney rattling,popping roar. You smell intense heat and dense smoke erupts, settling down onto and into the new living room furniture, including the sofa recently vacated by your frightened feline. Duke the dog shoots out between your legs through the kitchen door. What is happening? Well, the burning creosote that had built up inside the stove pipe from last winterâ??s fires has ignited and is now burning at extremely high temperatures which threatens to warp your stove pipe, crack the masonry chimney, as well a damage the wood burner itself making it useless. The intense heat also threatens to ignite combustibles in your walls and ceiling, as well as the roof rafters.

You both race from the house leaving behind the squawk of new smoke detectors and call 911, and you remember that it takes 10 to 20 SECONDS for the mainland 911 operator to answer calls from Beaver Island. Donâ??t hang up. When dispatch answers, you tell the operator your location, that every one is out including the dog and cat, where the seat of the fire is located and YOU STAY OUTSIDE. The Beaver Island Fire Department will enter your home, eliminate the heat source and haul your ashes OUTSIDE, and check and stop any fire spread in the walls and rafters. However, it isnâ??t a tidy process; drywall sheets have to be torn down, water is squirted into the places where itâ??s hard to reach, and the black ashes left get tracked around by heavy, wet fire boots.

This time, however, the fire is stopped in the chimney. The BIFD firefighters managed to keep most of the drywall intact, prevented the fire from spreading to the roof, and kept most of the hauled ashes in the bucket. Only some chunks of drywall, wet batts of insulation, a tipped over antique table, and black, muddy bootprints disturb the room.

Unsettled, you and your beloved sit down to the now cold cup of coffee in the now smoky afterglow of a Beaver Island morning. Your shared thought returns.

â??We better get down to McDonoughâ??s Store and borrow (rent free) the chimney cleaning rods and brushes.â?￾

Well, the thought was a day late and a dollar short this time, but NOW is the time to clean your chimney before the cold weather settles in.

And ,if you donâ??t know how or need help with the task, ask any Beaver Island firefighter and he or she will be glad to help you out or direct you to someone who can.

Please Practice Safe Chimney. Your fire department thanks you. -- Jim Stambaugh

We are moving into Carol's Barn with lots of furniture. Gerald built some sturdy shelves, so we will be organizing those this week. There are so many treasures to be found, so stop by Thursday, Friday, or Saturday from noon until 4:00. Donations are accepted during business hours. Just ask for assis...

This week we will be open Tues. through Sat. From noon until 4:00. Starting next week, the schedule changes to Thursday through Saturday from noon until 4:00. We are eager for donations from your fall cleaning, so drop them off during those times. We need furniture, kitchenware, fall clothing, tools...

Thank you for celebrating with us today. Sally Fogg's sign is perfect, the building is beautiful, and our community is so kind. If you missed the event, stop in this week for a tour. I am so grateful to my friend Carol, and today I am missing her big time !! Donna

HOOOO RAAAHH, Rachel. Welcome to the BIEMS team. This Is OUTSTANDING !!!!

Jim

HALF PRICE SALE
All shorts, capris, swimsuits, sleeveless, short sleeves, sandals, flip-flops, beach toys are ON SALE !!
We are eager to help you with your donations. Tues.- Sat. Noon until 4:00.

Stop at the big Island Treasures Resale Shop sign to meet the two ladies on duty there to greet our shoppers and donors. They were designed, crafted, and and donated by Karl and Sandy Bartels. Thank you ! What lovely additions to our crew!!! Donna

POTLUCK SALAD/DESSERT LUNCHEON AND FUNKY FUN FASHION SHOW! With beverages provided by BICC Womenâ??s Circle THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2013 12:30 PM at Gregg Fellowship Alice Hall Belfy Seating goes fastâ?¦call now for reservations: Island Treasures Resale 231-448-2534 Dee Gallagher 231-448-2262 Admission...

Another good ending. Outstanding.

Jim

Always glad to hear that news.

Jim

If you see the Big Fella around today wish him a Happy 46th birthday. Gettin' to be a museum piece.

Jim and Donna

Donna and I will keep our eyes open in our area. Does he/she have a name?

Jim

You all did an outstanding job. Congratulations on a job well done.

Jim Stambaugh

Blue jeans are on sale for $1 each !!! We have lots of great jeans in every size, every brand, and they are only $1.00 ! Stop in soon !!

See our posting on the Marketplace/ Trade Forum !!