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A no news is good news day on the COVID-19 front. Nothing new from the Health Center. Current seven-day active case count is now down to three. The state released updated hospital utilization data on Friday. That looks normal overall and the COVID-19 occupancy numbers are steady, but low. County voters will be asked to approve about one million dollars in millage proposals during the upcoming primary election on August 8th. They would provide funding for transit, parks and veterans programs in the county. There’s a link to a Courier story with full details in today’s script online. https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/06/30/charlevoix-county-has-three-ballot-proposals-aug-2-primary-election/7766923001/ Protestors upset by the Supreme Court’s decision overturning the holding in Roe v. Wade were out in force in Petoskey yesterday. Reports didn’t include crowd estimates, but pictures show a large group of sign carrying protestors along US-31. New census data shows overall population declining in Michigan especially in the south-east part of the state. Northwest Michigan, including Charlevoix county, grew in population, but not enough to overcome the losses elsewhere. Demographers attribute a good chunk but not all of the change to COVID-19, with the virus bringing COVID-19 refugees to areas with population gains and substantial numbers of COVID-19 related deaths having an outsized impact on the more densely populated areas around Detroit and in some southern counties where vaccine resistance was higher than in most places up north. Booming economies centered in Grand Rapids and Traverse City also had an impact. There’s a map showing changes county by county and a link to a Bridge Michigan story with more details in today’s script online. The Trails Association is looking for volunteers to walk the trails on the south end of the island to help identify maintenance needs. Trail maps and information about the trails are available at the BIC Center including just arrived individual maps for each of the main trails. If you’d like to volunteer to help walk the trails or help with maintenance later this summer, please reach out to Louis post at l-post forty-eight at g-mail dot com. If you don’t have one already, Beaver Island E-M-S urges you to get a green address sign out on the road by your house. The reflective numbers on them help E-M-S and other emergency services to find your house when you need it most. The signs are available from the Fire Auxiliary for just $35. You can place an order at McDonough’s Market. |
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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 regular meeting on Tuesday has been reset to the same time next week. Peaine Planning Commission meets Wednesday morning at 9:00. St. James Finance Committee meets Wednesday afternoon at 1:00 at the Governmental Center. And the Health Center Board meets next Friday at 4:00 at Peaine Township Hall. And that’s it for the week. Meeting details are in the calendar entry online. On the fun front today, Summer Yoga is on at the BIC Center this morning at 9:00. Tennis is on over on the municipal courts from 10 to noon. And, the Independence Day parade kicks off at 1:00 headed down main street from its starting point at Holy Cross Church. What to be in the parade? Start lining up at 12:30 along King’s Highway. 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. At 8:30 the Metallurgy Brass Band will provide entertainment on the ferry dock ahead of the fireworks. There may be a boat parade starting a bit before dusk, and then after darkness has settled in, the annual fireworks display will light up the bay. Wednesday, Chair Yoga is on at the BIC Center starting with stretch at 9:30 and full at 10:00. Tennis is on from 10 to noon on the municipal courts. Wednesday evening its BINGO time over at Gregg Fellowship Center. Doors open at 6:15 for fellowship. Games start at 7:00. Thursday, the Eve McDonough Music School starts up and runs through the end of the week. Details are in the calendar entry online. Also, the farmers market is on out at Paradise Bay coffee shop with the start time moved up to 8:30. Senior Tai Chi is on at the BIC Center in the Hangout at 9:30. Pickleball is 10 to noon on the municipal courts. And Games Galore is on up in the Hangout at the BIC Center from 1:00 to 4:00. Thursday evening its open mic on the porch night at the Harbor Bodega. Signup at 6:30. Performances start at 7:00. Friday, there’s Summer Yoga at the BIC Center starting at 9:00 on the stage in the theater. Also, tennis from 10 to noon on the municipal courts. The Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program is on up in the Hangout at 10:30. Friday evening, the Irish Speakers series kicks off at the Library at 7:00 Saturday, Pickleball is on 10 to noon. Saturday evening, the Glenn McDonough Memorial Concert is on at Redeer. Music in the pines is and island tradition. 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. The downtown farmer’s market is on from 11 to 3. And a celebration of life for the inimitable Paul Niehaus is planned at his hangar starting at 5. Bring your instrument if you play and be prepared to dance and have fun to celebrate Paul’s amazing journey through life. Looking for summer activities for the kids. There’s a summer reading program at the Library with a variety of events on tap. Check in with the library for details. And vacation Bible School starts up next Tuesday. Details on signing up for this no charge three day campe are in the calendar entry online. 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: Today, Joddy Crosswhite, Lilly Moon and Bob Smith celebrate along with the U-S of A. Happy Birthday to Lilly, Bob and Joddy, 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 either airport. The beltway is running smoothly and the bridges are clear, but summer traffic is picking up everywhere and there are delays in town around ferry times…so, let’s be careful out there. |
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ON THIS DAY in 1776 thirteen colonies make a break from Britain. The 13 American colonies throw off British rule as Philadelphia’s Continental Congress announces a new nation made up of united states. The anniversary of this Declaration of Independence, ratified one year into the Revolutionary War, will continue to be celebrated in the US as Independence Day. |
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MERRIAM-WEBSTER WORD OF THE DAY: Yankee (noun) {YANG-kee], which can refer broadly to anyone born or living in the U.S., or it can refer more narrowly only to those in the northern U.S., or even more narrowly, only to those in the states of New England. We don’t know the origin of Yankee but we do know that it began as an insult. British General James Wolfe used the term in a 1758 letter to express his low opinion of the New England troops assigned to him, and from around the same time period there is a report of British troops using Yankee as a term of abuse for the citizens of Boston. In 1775, however, after the battles of Lexington and Concord showed that colonials could stand up to British regulars, Yankee was proudly adopted by colonials as a self-descriptor in defiance of the pejorative use. Both derisive and respectable uses have existed ever since. |
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Now, to wrap up for this for Beaver Island Friday… |
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Here’s a thought for the day from the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” On a lighter note: How do you know two fireworks are in love? Sparks fly. |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar for this Beaver Island Friday, July 1st, 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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Independence Day Showers and thunderstorms likely before 11am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Tonight A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Tuesday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2pm. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 79. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. Northeast wind 5 to 15 mph. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 79. East wind 10 to 15 mph. Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 79. Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. Friday Sunny, with a high near 80. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 78. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 60. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. |
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Out on the Big Drink: |
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Independence Day E wind 5 to 10 kt. A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5pm. Waves 1 ft or less. Tuesday WNW wind 5 to 10 kt. A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 10am. Waves 1 ft or less. Wednesday NE wind around 10 kt. Mostly sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. |
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Water Temps: 61 at White Shoal and 63 at Sleeping Bear. 58 at the mid-lake buoy southwest of Gull Island. Little Traverse Bay station still isn’t reporting water temps. Still cold temps out there in the water that can be dangerous if you get stuck in the water for an extended period. Remember, if you are out in a small craft, dress for the water not the weather. |
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Community Calendar for Independence Day, Monday, July 4th, 2022
