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The Health Center is reporting another 19 new COVID-19 tests as of this morning with 13 of them back positive. That jumps the total of week or less old positives to 40. The state released updated hospital occupancy data on Friday. No big changes of note. Overall utilization remains near normal. COVID-19 occupancy dropped slightly and is now under 1,000 persons statewide. No changes in our local hospitalization numbers. Only ten Michigan counties remain on the CDC’s high risk list, Charlevoix not among them.
The Michigan Supreme Court has rejected appeals by three G-O-P candidates for governor for access to the party’s primary ballot. They were disqualified after the state election commission found large numbers of fraudulent signatures in their nominating petitions, apparently the result of dishonest work by paid petition circulators. The candidates say they were the victims of the fraud, but that the actual number of bad signatures was less than claimed and that the Board of Canvassers should have reviewed each signature. The courts said that election law did not require that, and that it would have been unduly burdensome. The action leaves what had been the two front runners for the G-O-P off the primary ballot. Challenges to the signatures were filed by a democratic activist and now G-O-P front runner Tudor Dixon. The attorney general is investigating the firms involved in collecting the signatures in question in what is being called the biggest petition signature fraud incident in state history with almost 70,000 signatures on nominating petitions for multiple candidates identified as fraudulent.
Graduation ceremonies for B-I-C-S were completed on Saturday under sunny skies, but with the speakers plagued by gusty winds that knocked over flags and flower displays. The speakers persevered and delivered thoughtful remarks to an attentive audience. Jared Robert provided the salutatorian address that offered thanks to the community. Valedictorian McKenna Turner themed her speech on the building blocks of a good life. And Commencement speaker Bill Kohne, who teaches advanced math at B-I-C-S, while noting that his speech would not be remembered, spoke about the importance of love and service, and following your dreams. The ceremony followed a parade through town with sidewalk crowds, sirens and a bagpipe accompaniment provided by Tommy Byrnes, on the island with his sons for a performance on Friday. After the diplomas were delivered, the community headed to the golf course for lunch. Gage Anderson, who was a member of the class until his family moved to Tennessee was also at the celebration. Jared is headed to Western Michigan to study Physics, McKenna to Notre Dame to study architecture and Gage to Tennessee Tech to study electrical engineering. |
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Now, here’s a look at what’s happening on your island…
Here’s your meeting planner for the week: St. James Planning Commission has a meeting set for next Tuesday at 6:00 at the Township Hall. B-I-C-S Committee of the whole meets Wednesday at 5:30 at school. St. James Township Board meets at the same time at the Township Hall. Elks Club meets Thursday Evening at 5:00 at Peaine Township Hall.
On the fun front today, Monday, Chair Yoga is scheduled up in the Hangout. Start time is 10:30.
Tuesday, Pickleball is on at 10:00 over on the Municipal Tennis Courts. The Arthritis Foundation Exercise program is on at 10:30 in the Hangout. Tuesday evening, B-I-C-S 4th through 6th graders take to the BIC Center stage with the first show in our 2022 Theater series. It’s Wingin’ It. Still a few seats available. Get them at the BIC Center Front Desk.
Wednesday, senior Chair Yoga is on up in the Hangout at the BIC Center at 10:30.
Thursday, Tai Chi is on at the BIC Center at 9:30. Pickleball is on, too, outside on tennis courts from 10 to noon. Games Galore is on up on the Hangout from 1:00 to 4:00. Also, Open Mic Night at the Bodega is on and will become Music on the Porch as the event moves outside for the warm weather. Sign-up at 6:30. Performances begin at 7:00.
Friday, the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program is on up in the Hangout at 10:30. And, at 12:30 it is time for BINGO brought to you by the C-O-A. Friday starts a statewide Free Fishing Weekend on the island and the official celebration of lilac blooms on the island—and they are out in force…the lilacs that is.
On Saturday, Pickleball is on 10 to noon. At 11, it’s time for the annual gardeners day at the Rural Health Center. All sorts of island friendly plants will be available for sale with proceeds to benefit the Health Center Wellness Garden.
Sunday there are services at Holy Cross, the Christian Church, the Episcopal Mission and the Lighthouse fellowship. Times and more details are in the calendar.
Coming up next week there are basketball camps set for B-I-C-S—both elementary and high school.
And, a final calendar note…tickets for the BIC Center W-V-B-I Secret Garden Summer Gala or on sale. You can get them at the BIC Center front Desk or online at tickets dot BIC Center dot org. This year’s event will be in Gene Masta’s beautiful gardens surrounding the old Lifesaving station that once stood at Whiskey Point…and that is now his summer home. Strolling dinner, music, libations, raffles and both silent and live auctions will add to the fun of mingling with your island friends in the Secret Garden.
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BIRTHDAYS: Bob Marsh is celebrating today. Happy Birthday to Bob and, if we missed you on our list, Happy Birthday to you, too, from all of us at W-V-B-I and your Beaver Island Community Center. |
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TRAFFIC: No delays inbound or outbound to the airports but expect delays in town when the ferry arrives. It is full just about every day these days. And, new born critters are everywhere. So, let’s be careful out there. |
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ON THIS DAY in 1944 Allied invasion of Europe begins. Four years and two days after Allied forces evacuated from the European mainland, they return in the Normandy landings, the largest amphibious military assault in history. By the end of the day, 5,000 vessels land 160,000 troops on the French coastline, launching the push to defeat Germany.
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MERRIAM-WEBSTER WORD OF THE DAY: sumptuous (adjective) [SUMP-shuh-wus], which is used to describe things that are extremely costly, rich, luxurious, or magnificent. The word sumptuous typically describes things that can only be had at some significant expense, a fact that keeps the modern English word tied to its Latin source: sumptus, meaning “expense.” Another English adjective, sumptuary, has the same Latin source, but today is found mostly in the context of sumptuary laws, largely historical regulations limiting extravagant expenditures and habits, especially on moral or religious grounds. |
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Now, to wrap up for this for Beaver Island Monday… |
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Here’s a thought for the day from General Dwight Eisenhower, commander of the D-Day invasion forces: “Pessimism never won any battle.”
On a lighter note: What do you call a dragon with heartburn? Bad news for the nearest village. |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar for this Beaver Island Monday, June 6th, 2022. I’m Kevin Boyle reporting from W-V-B-I’s Langford Family Studios wishing you a great day—and asking you: why not go ahead and make it the best day ever? And, thanks for listening. |
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Today Rain, mainly before 2pm. Patchy fog before 10am. High near 63. East wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible. Tonight A 20 percent chance of showers before 11pm. Patchy fog between 11pm and 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Tuesday Partly sunny, with a high near 66. West wind 10 to 15 mph. Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Wednesday Partly sunny, with a high near 66. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 67. Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 69. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 48. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 68. |
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Out on the Big Drink: |
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Today E wind 10 to 15 kt becoming NE in the afternoon. Showers, mainly before noon. Patchy fog. Waves 1 to 2 ft. Tonight NNW wind 5 to 10 kt. Patchy fog before midnight. Waves 1 ft or less. Tuesday W wind around 10 kt. Partly sunny. Waves around 1 ft. Tuesday Night W wind 5 to 10 kt becoming SW after midnight. Partly cloudy. Waves 1 ft or less. Wednesday Variable winds 5 kt or less. Partly sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. |
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Water Temps: 53 at White Shoal and Sleeping Bear. Still a chilly 38 at the mid-lake buoy southwest of Gull Island. Little Traverse Bay station isn’t reporting water temps. Still cold out there. Remember, if you are out in a small craft, remember to dress for the water not the weather. |
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