|
|
|
Governor Whitmer met with President Trump at the White House yesterday, urging relief on tariffs hurting Michigan’s auto industry and a waiver to avoid deep Medicaid cuts. She also pushed for help filling the state’s vacant Genesee County megasite after a $63 billion chip plant deal collapsed. Scientists are racing to save Lake Michigan’s whitefish from collapse — but funding is falling far short of the threat. Quagga mussels, brought in on ship ballast decades ago, now carpet nearly every inch of the lake bottom, starving fish by filtering out plankton. University of Wisconsin researcher Harvey Bootsma’s team uses scrapers, tarps, and a 1,200‑pound “mussel masher” to clear spawning reefs, with help from invasive round gobies that eat young mussels. But the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has spent just $14 million on mussel control since 2010 — a fraction of what experts say is needed — and with the mussels covering 22,000 square miles, scientists warn time is running out. There’s extensive coverage of the problem and efforts to address it in an article on Bridge Michigan linked in today’s script online.
A map showing the spread of invasive mussels in Lake Michigan including how zebra mussels, once considered the Great Lakes’ main bivalve invader, have waned while quagga mussels have expanded to cover nearly every inch of the lakebed. Map from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Two Charlevoix businesses are getting a boost from the state’s Match on Main program. The Charlevoix Courier reports Dockside Books in downtown Charlevoix is receiving a $25,000 grant to enhance its community gathering space, while Petoskey’s PEcado Limited and Cheboygan’s Creation Station also won funding. Governor Whitmer says the grants, awarded to 63 small businesses statewide, will help grow vibrant downtowns. The program is run by the Michigan Economic Development Council. On the Island, it looks like another day of smoke and haze. The WVBI Air Quality Sensor read 126 at 9:00 this morning after spiking at 175 over night. Air quality remains poor across the region due to wildfire smoke from Canada.
Map showing regional AQI readings. Map from Purple Air |
|
Now, here’s a look at events happening on your Emerald Isle… First your meeting planner. A-A meets at 6:00 at the Christian Church on Thursday and Saturday. And that’s it on the meeting front through the end of next week. On the fun front today… Wednesday, Summer Yoga is on at the BIC Center at 9:30 with a restorative session. At the library, 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. And, there’s BINGO Wednesday evening at the Gregg Fellowship Center. Doors open for fellowship at 6:15. Games start at 7:00. Thursday at 9:00, there’s Pickleball on the Peaine Township Courts. 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. At 11:00, the COA has a Crafter’s Social at the Peaine Township Hall. At 5:30 Thursday, the BIC Center W-V-B-I Summer Breeze Gala gets underway out at the Biological Station. Enjoy a plated dinner, beer, wine and other beverages, live and silent auctions, raffle prizes, music from John Ellison and the Carpenter Ants…and the company of Island friends all at an event to support the BIC Center and W-V-B-I. Tickets are at tickets dot bic center dot org. Also Thursday evening, it’s Burger and a Beer Night at the Shamrock and over at the library at Elizabeth Claire Rose will be the artist in residence for the evening. She’s a print maker who works with photography and collage. That starts at 7:30. Highlights for the rest of the week include… Friday, kicks with Senior + Vets Coffee + Donuts is on at the BIC Center from 8:30 to 11:30. At 9:00, there’s Chair Strength Training in the Hangout at the BIC Center and Pickleball on the Peaine Township Courts. Summer Yoga is at 9:30 with a basic flow session in the theater at the BIC Center. C-O-A has a Walkersize session at 10:30, a walk from Heritage Park to the St. James Campground and back. Island Homecoming activities get underway at 12:45 with Ryley Maudrie playing the National Anthem ahead of the 50th annual Bud McDonnough Memorial Softball Tournament. At 6:00 there’s Cleats and Chaos as the Island’s fiercest females bring action to the diamond. And at 7:00 it’s the Mike Perdue Memorial Concert the Doghouse Boodlers playing rock-n-roll. [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.] Saturday, there’s Pickleball outdoors at 9:00. The Artisan’s Market is on out by the lighthouse at Whiskey Point. That starts at 10:00. At 1:00, there’s a Garden Open house on the south end at Giona Mangra’s and Scot Simon’s Shenanigan’s Garden. That’s to support the Wellness Garden at the Health Center. No charge, but your free will donation will help the wellness garden. Also, at 1:00, the Fiero Coding Club is on at the Library. And, Saturdays are Prime Rib night at the Shamrock. After dinner head out to see a full moon rising over Paradise Bay. [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 at the Episcopal Mission at 9:00 and the Christian Church at 10:00, and Mass at Holy Cross at 12:15. The annual Bocce Ball Role starts at 11:00. This year it benefits the Health Center. Sign up at Tickets dot bic center dot org. Homecoming Chicken Dinner starts at 4:30 at Holy Cross Hall. Looking ahead to highlights for next week… Monday Volleyball Camp starts at BICS. Summer Yoga is at the BIC Center at 9:30 in the Theater with a Basic Flow session followed by a Therapeutic Chair session at 11:00. At 10:00, Nancy Peterson will be at the library leading a session on beading. C-O-A has Cardio Drumming at 10:00 and a Crafter’s Social at 11:00, both out at Peaine Township Hall. 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 is outside on the township courts at 9:00. Babes and Toddlers mix it up at the library at 10:00. 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]. |
|
NAME OF DAY: The BIC Center Name of the Day is Judy. If that’s your name, come on into the BIC Center today to pick out a free drink of your choice. BIRTHDAYS: Carol Burton is on our list today. Happy Birthday to Carol, 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. But it is very busy in town when the ferry arrives, and the warm weather means lots of folks at the public beach plus hikers and bikers everywhere. Plus, baby turtles are busy crossing. So, let’s be careful out there. |
|
On this date in 1845, the University of Michigan holds its first graduation ceremony — not on campus, but at the First Presbyterian Church in Ann Arbor, where it will stay for 11 years. Eleven seniors march from campus for speeches, poems, and the awarding of bachelor’s degrees. The Rev. George Duffield of Detroit calls them “the first fruits of our University” and urges them to see knowledge as open to all. The Class of 1845 may be small, but the Detroit Free Press hails it as a sign of “more distinguished days” to come. Design for one of the initial buildings at what was then labeled Michigan University. Image from lib.umich.edu |
|
Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is largesse (noun) [lahr-ZHESS], a somewhat formal word that refers to the act of giving away money or the generosity of a person who gives away money. It can also refer to the money that is given away. The English language has benefited from the largesse of Anglo-French, through which a generous number of words have passed; examples range from simple to account to desert to large. That last one, meaning “generous, broad, or wide,” is the source of both largesse and the familiar duo of large and enlarge. Most people understand enlarge to mean “to make larger,” but a less common sense (used in Shakespeare’s Henry V) is “to set free.” Largesse also contains the notion of freedom, specifically with regard to a lack of financial constraints: it’s not about having a “large” amount of money but rather being “free” with it. |
|
Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Wednesday… |
|
Here’s a thought for the day from Lucille Ball, who was born on this day in 1911: “I believe that we’re as happy in life as we make up our minds to be.” |
|
On a lighter note… What’s made of brass and sounds like Tom Jones? Trombones. |
|
That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Wednesday, August 6th, 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. |
|
### |
|
Today A 20 percent chance of showers after 2pm. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 77/81. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Tonight A 10 percent chance of showers before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. East wind around 10 mph becoming southeast after midnight. Thursday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 78/82. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Thursday Night A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Friday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 80/84. South wind around 10 mph. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 82/87. Saturday Night A chance of showers after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Sunday A chance of showers before 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 80/84. Sunday Night A chance of showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Monday A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 79/83. Monday Night A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Tuesday A chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79/84. |
|
Fire Danger Level on the Island set at High. |
|
Out on the Big Drink… |
|
Today ESE wind 5 to 10 kt becoming N in the afternoon. Patchy smoke before noon. Waves 1 ft or less. Thursday S wind 5 to 10 kt becoming SW in the afternoon. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 1pm and 4pm, then a slight chance of showers after 4pm. Waves 1 ft or less. Friday SSW wind around 10 kt. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1pm. Waves 1 ft or less. |
|
Water Temperature: It’s 69 in Little Traverse Bay. The North Lake Michigan buoy southwest of Gull is reporting 70 with one foot seas.
Mid Lake Michigan photo at time shown. Provided by NWS |
|
Photos from webcams at wvbi.net and mackinacbridge.org |
|
Governor Whitmer meets with President Trump in Washington, pressing for tariff relief, a Medicaid funding fix, and help filling Michigan’s vacant “megasite” after a massive chip plant deal collapsed. Plus — a race against time to save Lake Michigan’s whitefish from invasive quagga mussels, with scientists warning funding is nowhere near enough. Also — big news for Charlevoix businesses with new state grants, and an update on our smoky skies. |
|
Today’s featured photo shows quagga mussels blanketing the bottom of Lake Michigan. Photo by Harvey Bootsma from BridgeMI |
