| Michigan lawmakers left Lansing Tuesday without passing a new K-12 budget, blowing past the state’s deadline and leaving schools uncertain about their funding. The Democratic-led Senate adjourned first, still at odds with the Republican-led House over how to split money between schools and roads. Senate Leader Winnie Brinks says they want a better budget, not just a quick one. House Speaker Matt Hall offered deals to restore funding for school meals and rural busing, but talks collapsed. With no penalties for missing the deadline, it could be weeks before schools know what funding they will have.
After weeks of secrecy, officials in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula have released the names of two men found dead June 8 at Isle Royale National Park. They’re identified as John and Bradley Baird, a father and son from Northville. Release of the names came after pressure from media and repeated Freedom of Information Act requests. The county prosecutor said the National Park Service tried to keep the names sealed, fearing it might hamper the FBI’s murder-suicide investigation—but admitted there was no legal basis to withhold them. Although murder-suicide remains suspected, officials say it is still unclear who among the pair did what.
Antiques Roadshow rolled into Charlevoix yesterday, filming three episodes at Castle Farms. More than four thousand guests came with heirlooms, paintings, even duck decoys—hoping to uncover hidden history and value. Selected from over fifteen thousand applicants, visitors traveled from across the country. The show’s Charlevoix episodes, featuring the lakeshore and Castle Farms, will air early next year.
On the Island, the annual Glen McDonough Concert under the pines at Red Deer is coming up on Saturday. We caught up with Elanor McDonough to talk about the concert and its history on the Island… |
| We’ve been having a Glenn McDonough Memorial concert since 2009, and we’re very proud of our history because we’ve only missed the time with COVID. But every year we’ve had a concert. For the benefit of the Glenn McDonough Memorial Music Scholarship Fund for scholarships for children and adults as well, and also for our Eve, Glenn McDonough Music School, which we hold on Beaver Island prior to the concert and during the concert time. |
| The main concert is Saturday evening at 7:30 on the lawn in front of Red Deer cottage, which is on Kings Highway as you head out of town. There’s no charge, but your freewill donation helps support the music school and scholarships. And, in addition to the the main concert and music school, there’s now Red Deer Unplugged… |
| Also, we’re having something very special this year. We started this last year on Sunday evening at 9:00 at Red Deer, and last year we had Paul Lamb. This year on Sunday. July 6 at 9:00 PM we’re having Shaker Heights. And on Monday, July 7th, at 9:00, we’re having Ruby John. |
| Elanor will be our guest on Beaver Island Perspectives tomorrow afternoon after the news at five to talk more about how the McDonough Memorial Concert got started and this year’s events. |
| Now, here’s a look at events happening on your Emerald Isle…
First your meeting planner. A-A meets Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 6:00 at the Christian Church. Peaine Township Planning Commission has a meeting set for Tuesday at 3:30. School is closed this week for the holiday and, speaking of that, there is a Community Meeting on main street on Friday to celebrate our Independence. It starts at 1:00 and will end with fireworks.
On the fun front today…
Wednesday, Paradise Bay Coffee Shop opens at 8:30 for the season. Summer Yoga at the BIC Center is on today at 9:30 with a restorative session. The library has plenty going on. There’s Kids Storytime, Crafts and Art for three years and up at 10:00 and then for 10 years and up at 11:00. At the BIC Center, there’s Bingo at 1:00 in the Hangout. At 3:00 C-O-A has Fun & Gamers out at Peaine Township Hall. At 7:00, there’s BINGO at the Gregg Fellowship Center. Doors open at 6:15 for fellowship.
Thursday, at 8:00 the Beaver Island Golf Course annual 4th of July Golf Tournament tees off. There’ll be lunch and prizes. At 9:00 there’s Pickleball and at 10:00 a trifecta of activities: Tai Chi in the Hangout at the BIC Center, C-O-A Cardio Drumming out at the Peaine Township Hall and Women’s Bible Study at the Christian Church. Again, all those events starting at 10:00. At 11:00, the COA has a Crafter’s Social at the Peaine Township Hall. And it’s Burger and a Beer Night at the Shamrock.
Highlights for the rest of the week include… Friday, is Independence Day. The BIC Center will be closed, so no Senior + Vets Coffee + Donuts, Yoga or Chair Strength training. Also closed are the library and the resale shop. But, the C-O-A has a Walkersize at 10:30, a walk from Heritage Park to the St. James Campground and back. The Island’s Independence Day parade steps off at 1:00. If you want to be in it, be lined up by 12:30 on Kings Highway south of Holy Cross. Fireworks are at about 10:00 in the evening as soon as twilight has faded. [On the radio, Kick off your weekend with our fantastic Friday lineup! After the 6:00pm news, enjoy “That Thing with Rich Appel” featuring top forty hits from the 70s. At 9:00pm, tune into “The Titus Jennings Experience” offering music from all genres, followed by “The Midnight Special” with Marilyn Rea Beyer at 11:00pm for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.]
Just before sunrise on Saturday look for Neptune near the eastern-southeastern horizon. Look for the brighter Saturn first. Neptune will be just north of it. Check dark sky island dot org for more info. Then, head to the free Beaver Island E-M-S pancake breakfast at the Holy Cross Hall from 8:00 to 11:00. Fluffy pancakes, eggs, bacon, hot coffee, and lemonade. Did I mention it’s free? Work off the breakfast with Pickleball outside on the Peaine Township courts at 9:00. Then, there’s the Artisan’s Market out by the lighthouse at Whiskey Point. That starts at 10:00. At 1:30, the Eve McDonough Music School is in session at Red Deer. Check the calendar for sign up info. Saturday evenings are Prime Rib Night at the Shamrock. After dinner, you’ve two choices for music. The annual McDonough Memorial Concert is at 7:30 in the front lawn under the pines at Red Deer. At the BIC Center it’s the Orbitsuns, the Motor City’s finest purveyors of low down and dirty outlaw country. Showtime is 7:30. Tickets are at tickets dot bic center dot org.
[On the radio, tune in for Country Classics at 5:00 Saturday evening with host Sheri Timsak. At 7:00, Jackson Smith and Steve Girbach are in with Songs from the Trail. Mark Beltaire takes over at 9:00 with Rockin’ the Boat and continues at 10:00 with the Blues Cruise. Cousin Dan wraps up the evening with the Too Good Radio Show starting at 11:00.]
Sunday, there are services and Episcopal Mission at 9:00 and the Christian Church at 10:00, and Mass at Holy Cross at 12:15. At 1:30, the Eve McDonough Music School is back in session for its second and final day. Then at 9:00, it’s Red Deer Unplugged with Shaker Hites playing inside at the cabin.
Looking ahead to highlights for next week…
Monday, Summer Yoga is at the BIC Center at 9:30 in the Theater with a Basic Flow session. C-O-A has Cardio Drumming at 10:00 and a Crafter’s Social at 11:00, both out at Peaine Township Hall. B-I-Robot, the B-I-C-S robotics team presents a robot film festival at the BIC Center. Wild Robot shows at 3:00. A robot discovers the wonders of nature in this award-winning hit. At 5:00 there’ll be a robot demonstration with a look at this year’s competition robot and robot racing. At 6:00, Companion takes to the screen. ‘ . Also Monday, Red Deer Unplugged is on for a second night featuring Ruby John. Showtime is 9:00, again in the cabin at Red Deer. And, Monday evening is all you can eat pizza night at the Beachcomber.
Tuesday, there’s Chair Strength Training at the BIC Center at 9:00. Pickleball has changed to summer days and times. Today at 9:00, Thursday at 9:00 and Saturday at 9:00. Babes and Toddlers mix it up at the library at 10:00. Also, at 10:00, pickleball outdoors on the Peaine Township courts. At 10:30, there’s C-O-A Walkersize with a walk from Heritage Park out to the St. James Campground and back. At 1:00, drop by the BIC Center Hangout to play Mah Jongg [mah jawng]. Tuesday evening the Beaver Island Jazz Series takes to the BIC Center stage with the first of its events for the season. Edye & Mike will be here as a voice and guitar duo performing tunes from the American songbook and more…all on a stage lit with candles. It’s candlelit jazz at the BIC Center. Showtime is 7:30. Tickets are at tickets.biccenter.org. |
| NAME OF DAY: The BIC Center Name of the Day is Cory. If that’s your name, come on in to the BIC Center today to pick out a free drink of your choice.
BIRTHDAYS: Jared Robert, Kelly Collins, Larry Roy and Nick DeLaat are on our list today, and I had them on the list yesterday too, getting a day ahead. Craig Peirano, Jimmy Gilespie, Suzy Bonedeo, Loretta Slater and Cindy Hunting should have been on the list yesterday. So Happy Birthday to Kelly, Nick, Larry and Jared and belated Happy Birthday to Cindy, Loretta, Suzy, Jimmy and Craig and, if we missed you on the list, Happy Birthday to you too from everyone at WVBI and your Beaver Island Community Center! |
| TRAFFIC: No delays inbound or outbound to the airports. The island beltway is running smoothly with no bridge delays. Still, let’s be careful out there. |
| On this day in 1897 Italian engineer Guglielmo Marconi, age 23, is awarded a patent in London for a new form of wireless telegraphy, bringing ‘Improvements in Transmitting Electrical impulses and Signals and in Apparatus therefor.’ Marconi’s device will eventually become known by its more common name, the radio and in time will be used to create the best radio station on the planet.
Marconi demonstrates a later wireless telegraph device. Image from bing.com |
| Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is galumph (verb) [guh-LUMF], which means to move in a loud and clumsy way. Galumph first lumbered onto the English scene in 1872 when Lewis Carroll used the word to describe the actions of the vanquisher of the Jabberwock in Through the Looking Glass: “He left it dead, and with its head / He went galumphing back.” Other 19th-century writers must have liked the sound of galumph, because they began plying it in their own prose, and it has been clumping around our language ever since. |
| Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Wednesday… |
| Here’s a thought for the day from Lewis Carroll: “If you don’t know where you are going, any road can take you there.” |
| On a lighter note…
Today I saw an ad that said “radio for sale, $1, volume stuck on full.” I thought, “I can’t turn that down.” |
| That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025. 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
Isolated showers before 2pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 5pm. Widespread haze after noon. Sunny, with a high near 82. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Tonight Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 11pm, then isolated showers between 11pm and 2am. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 57. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Thursday Widespread haze before 10am. Sunny, with a high near 71 on the shore 79 inland. North wind around 5 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 58. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight. Independence Day Sunny, with a high near 74 on the parade route, 82 inland. South wind around 5 mph. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. Saturday A 40 percent chance of showers after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 77 on the beach, 85 inland. Saturday Night A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Sunday A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 74. Sunday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 72, 79 inland. Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 58. Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 73, 80 inland. |
| Fire Danger Level on the Island set at High. |
| Out on the Big Drink… |
| Today
WSW wind 5 to 10 kt. A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Waves 1 ft or less. Thursday Variable winds 5 kt or less. Sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. Independence Day Variable winds 5 kt or less. Mostly sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. |
| Water Temperature: It’s 59 in Little Traverse Bay. The North Lake Michigan buoy southwest of Gull is reporting 57 with one foot waves.
Mid Lake Michigan photo at time shown. Provided by NWS |
| Photos from webcams at wvbi.net and mackinacbridge.org |
Community Calendar Report for Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025
