Thunderbird Beach Property Owners Association

10/23/2026

BALD EAGLE SPOTTED NEAR AIRLINE RD

Hello everyone, and TGIF! To kick off what is scheduled to be an absolutely beautiful fall weekend, we wanted to share the below photos of a Bald Eagle that was spotted yesterday by community member Benjamin Myers along Airline Rd. just west of the curves south of the lake.

To our knowledge, this is the first such Eagle that has ever been reported near or on the lake, although there are known nesting pairs on other nearby lakes such as Perrin and Templene.

We have always been blessed with a variety of wildlife within the subdivision! While deer and rabbits top the list of frequent visitors, raccoon and opossum are also common, and we have received multiple reports of red fox sightings over the years as well.

More recently, we were informed of the presence of a beaver(!!) which was calling the subdivision home. Meanwhile, the yipping of coyotes and the hooting of Great Horned Owls have always been heard on still summer nights.

Speaking of owls, late last summer another member had submitted a photo of two Barred Owls spotted roosting in a tree along Airline Rd. If you are new to the page and have not yet seen that photo, you can view it at the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/ThunderbirdBeachPropertyOwnersAssociation/posts/pfbid02tzvu8BaBwiYtsksdy2TejtKrvBvmdKwUfMELmC3D8yo1AdRbASc5HW2gJUQaThea

What is YOUR most memorable wildlife sighting within the subdivision? Let us know in the comments!

10/22/2026

NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS

Yesterday one of our members reached out to the Board of Directors looking for assistance with contacting a fellow resident of the Thunderbird Beach subdivision to inform them that they had located what appeared to be their misplaced wallet at the local Meijer. We are happy to report that the wallet was reunited with its (very grateful) owner soon after!

Despite the fact that they would hate nothing more, we would like to publicly thank and recognize members Gale & Cathy Daniels of 25736 Hiawatha Dr for being upstanding citizens and going out of their way to return the wallet to its rightful owner! Thank you, Gale & Cathy!

10/08/2026

We hope you will consider turning your light on and participate in this fun event!

10/07/2026

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH ALERT — MAN SEEN RUMMAGING THROUGH CURBSIDE TRASH BINS

Good evening, everyone! Today we have a neighborhood watch update/alert to pass along. Yesterday we received a report of a man on a bicycle who appeared to be going through residential trash bins which were positioned curbside awaiting weekly pick up.

According to the report received the activity resulted in some trash being left strewn about, but the individual moved on after some time without incident.

We have reached out to our contact at the SJC Sheriff’s Department who confirmed that this activity is not illegal, as trash positioned at the curb is considered abandoned property available to the public. However, leaving trash behind (littering) and traveling out of the road right of way (trespassing) are prohibited.

If you would like to avoid such a scenario, we recommend positioning your cart at the curb just prior to your scheduled pick up time and retrieving it as soon as possible afterward.

Should you observe this behavior coupled with trash being left behind resulting in a littering concern, and/or any related trespassing or property damage, please report it to us promptly so we can pass it along to the Sheriff’s Department for corrective action.

Thanks all, and stay safe out there!

Devin Schwartz
Chair, Neighborhood Safety Committee

10/06/2026

SJC HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION EVENT TO BE HELD TUESDAY, 10/6

The fall St. Joseph County household hazardous waste collection event is scheduled for Tuesday, 10/6 from 2–6 PM at the SJC Fairgrounds in Centreville. This is a great way to responsibly dispose of items containing hazardous materials, such as fluorescent and LED light bulbs, pharmaceutical needles, paint, and many forms of chemicals.

This event is a perfect opportunity to clean out that garage, shed, basement, or backyard with a clean conscience! Automotive tires are accepted, as are household electronics such as batteries, computers, monitors, printers, and TVs. Recycling for more common household items like cardboard and paper is also available, with full details in the flyer below.

If you have items that you would like to dispose of at this event but lack a means to transport them or will be otherwise unable to make the scheduled day/time, the Aesthetic Improvement Committee is happy to help by hauling the items on your behalf. Please message this page for assistance!

09/17/2026

ROADKILL COLLECTED & REMOVED FROM OTTAWA DRIVE

Earlier this week, the Aesthetic Improvement Committee responded to a report from a community member of some wildlife which had apparently been hit by a vehicle on the heavily-trafficked Ottawa Drive. Thanks to the individual who took the time to notify us of its existence, committee members were able to promptly remove and dispose of the dead animal.

Roadkill removal is one of the many services which fall within the scope of the Aesthetic Improvement Committee. If you observe future instance of roadkill on or near subdivision streets, please report it to us so we can take action as soon as possible before the ensuing odor becomes a larger nuisance!

08/21/2026

MISSING PET ALERT

We have a missing pet alert to share this morning! A small brown dog escaped from his home this morning on Thunderbird Dr. Sized the same as or smaller than a chihuahua. Named “Ricky”, but bashful around people.

If you see him or have information regarding his whereabouts, please call or text (269) 883-8292!

08/17/2026

FOG EMULSION TOPCOAT TO BE APPLIED TO SUBDIVISION STREETS MONDAY, 8/17

Public Service Announcement — The final phase of the subdivision street resurfacing project consisting of a fog emulsion topcoat was originally slated for 8/6 but was delayed due to the rainy and humid conditions we have been experiencing.

The fog emulsion is now scheduled for Monday afternoon, 8/17. Take appropriate precautions, such as not parking streetside, moving curbside trash bins, and protecting driveway surfaces from overspray!

08/05/2026

STREET SWEEPING PERFORMED IN ADVANCE OF FOG EMULSION OVERLAY SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, 8/6

Phase two of the subdivision street resurfacing project is now underway, with street sweeping being perfomed to collect all remaining loose stones from the chip and seal application back on 7/16.

Notably, the street sweeper is not simply brushing remaining loose stones off of the roadway onto the shoulder or into adjacent lawns. The two rotary brushes are spinning towards the center of the sweeper, where the loose stone is collected and deposited into a hopper that is then dumped into waiting dump trucks when full.

This phase was not performed after the 2019 chip and seal of subdivision streets, and appears promising in terms of both creating a smoother road surface and resulting in far less stone residue being thrown into neighborhood lawns.

Per SJC Road Commission Director Garrett Myland, street sweeping after chip and seal is not typical, but is an extra step now being performed on streets within subdivisions to reduce loose stone excess as well as stone throw into adjacent lawns. We would like to thank the SJC Road Commission for extending this consideration to our community!

Street sweeping is scheduled to be completed today, after which a fog emulsion overlay consisting of tar will be sprayed over the entire roadway surface Thursday, 8/6 as a sealant and to permanently affix any remaining loose stone.

As with the original chip and seal application, residents possessing cement drives which directly touch or join the roadway surface are advised to lay down cardboard or plastic to protect the concrete surface from tar overspray in advance of Thursday.

08/04/2026

We regret to inform you all that Mrs. Karen Severson of 67658 Thunderbird Drive has recently passed away.

Karen was one of both the eldest and longest-tenured members of our community. Her zest for life and spirited disposition that she maintained even throughout her later years will not soon be forgotten!

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Severson family during this time. Visitation and memorial services will be held both tonight and tomorrow, with further information available at the link below.

If you have a favorite memory of Karen that you would like to share, please do so in the comments!

View Karen Severson's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.