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Peaine’s township board met last evening in a marathon session running more than two hours. Among many matters considered and acted upon, the board looked at a proposal to test using Perma-Zyme, a soil stabilizer, to improve some heavily used unpaved roads in the township. Board member Andy Stebbins said his research showed that taking that course could both improve road conditions while reducing maintenance costs and the need for dust control. When mixed with the right ratio of gravel and clay, Perma-Zyme is said to create a road surface that is close to concrete but at dramatically lower costs: less than $10,000 a mile instead of a million for paving. The board voted to pursue developing the materials necessary to test the material on a one-to-two-mile section of road in the township. There’s a link to info about Perma-Zyme in today’s script online. https://www.substrata.us/perma-zyme
A busy summer of construction continues. New siding has begun to appear on the front of school as work proceeds there. Road work and work on the municipal airport runway continues as well. And, Barney’s Lake Road is open again after the road commission replaced culverts there yesterday.
The News-Review reports that a new women’s charitable giving group is making a growing impact in Northern Michigan. Impact100 Little Traverse Bay has nearly 350 members and plans to award $342,000 to three local nonprofits this August. Members each contribute $1,000 a year, with funds staying in Charlevoix and Emmet counties. Organizers hope membership will top 500 by year’s end, allowing even larger grants to local charities in 2027. You can learn about joining and grant opportunities at impact-100-L-T-B dot com.
Down in T-C, the Sheriff’s Office is praising investigators, prosecutors, forensic experts, and even college students who helped solve a 37-year-old murder case. Steven Koon was recently convicted of second-degree murder in the 1989 death of Linda Meteer. Officials say cold-case work, DNA evidence, and years of persistence finally brought answers to Meteer’s family and justice in a case long thought unsolved.
In Lansing, Michigan House Democrats have introduced a package of bills aimed at lowering utility costs. One proposal would cap the profit rate utilities can earn from customers, while others would require independent audits of electric grids and prohibit utilities from charging ratepayers for lobbying, advertising, or certain executive perks. Supporters say the measures could reduce bills and increase accountability, while utilities say the changes could make it harder to attract investment for reliability upgrades.
If you are headed across and downstate today, you’ll want to be on the lookout for severe weather late in the day starting at 4:00 until 11:00. Damaging winds and large hail are possible along with heavy rain and thunderstorms.
On the Island, Beaver Island EMS is looking for volunteers to help with its annual Pancake Breakfast on July 5th. The popular event serves breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m., or until the food runs out. Volunteers are needed for setup, cooking, serving, cleanup, and helping guests throughout the morning. Anyone interested in lending a hand can contact Beaver Island EMS or Kathleena Mason through Facebook Messenger.
And the Joint Telecommunications Advisory Committee is planning an information session on Broadband for the 23rd at 5:00. That’s next Tuesday evening. They’ll have an update on a proposal for a community owned, Island-wide fiber project.
Plus, don’t forget about the upcoming Elks Burger Night. It’s this Friday from 5 to 6:30 at the G-F-C with drive through service. |
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Now here’s a look at other upcoming events on your Emerald Isle…
First your meeting planner…
A-A meets Thursday and Saturday at 6:00. Library Board and J-TAC meet Thursday at 4:30. Locations and more details are in the calendar entries online.
On the fun front…
Wednesday, the Open Hands Café: Breakfast Club runs 8:00 until 10:00 a.m. at the G-F-C. At 10:30 at the library there’s Storytime with Ms. Tara and a read-aloud about an invisible dinosaur. The, spy bottles will be made. At 1:00, there’s Seniors BINGO at the BIC Center. At 3:00, the Book Club meets at the library to discuss Theo of Golden by Allen Levi.
Thursday, the COA has a double feature at Peaine Twp Hall — Cardio Drumming at 10:00 and Art Therapy at 11:00. Meanwhile, there’s Women’s Bible Study at 10:00 a.m. at the BI Christian Church and at 10:30, there’s Senior Tai Chi at the BIC Center. Thursday afternoon the Sustainability Fair gets underway with a session on Turning Poop into Gold with a Sludgehammer septic system. It’ll be part of Tara Meadow’s new Sustainability Camp. The session is at Tara’s Meadow on West Side Drive south of Greene’s Lake. At 7:00 at the library local author Jake Bontrager will talk about his new book. He’ll sign copies that will be available for sale. And, Thursday evening is Burger and a Beer Night at the Shamrock.
[Thursday evening on the radio, drop in for W-V-B-I’s newest music show. It’s The Underground with Leila Freijy. It’s the underground sound of grunge and more from the 80s and 90s with special features every week. Tune in at 7:00 for two hours Underground.]
Highlights for the rest of the week include…
Friday, there’s Senior and Vets Coffee and Donuts from 9:00 to 11:00 in the Welcome Center at the BIC Center, plus Chair Strength Training up in the Hangout at 9:30. Sustainability Fair events include a Welcome Reception at the BIC Center at noon for the Irish & Odawa Storytellers and artists that will perform later at the BIC Center. That’ll be followed at 1:00 by a On Being Native: Indigeneity & Environmental Activism. At 7:00, the BIC Center stage comes alive with an Irish & Odawa Jam Session: Storytelling, Drum and Dance Music. And Friday will be the first Elks Burger Night of the summer. Half pounders with all the trimmings and optional sides. They’ll be serving drive up at the GFC from 5:00 to 6:30. You can order ahead on Thursday from 1 to 5 to avoid a wait at 313-680-5023.
The first Elks Burger Night of the summer (or of you want to be technical, last of the Spring) is Friday from 5:00 to 6:30. Image from Beaver Island Elks on Facebook
[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, the Artisan’s Market is on at the Point starting at 10:00. It’s Prime Rib night at the Shamrock.
[On the radio, tune in for Country Classics at 5:00 Saturday evening with host Sheri Timsak. At 7:00, take a trip back to the best of the 80s and 90s with the Mix Tape show (that’s a 120-minute TDK cassette tape for those in the know) hosted by WVBI’s Adam Pettigrew. 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 at the Christian Church at 10:00. Mass is at Holy Cross at 12:15. And Sunday is the Summer Solstice.
Looking ahead to highlights for next week…
Monday, Open Hands has breakfast at the GFC from 8:00 to 11:00. COA has Cardio Drumming at 10:00 and Art Therapy at 11:00 at Peaine Township Hall. At the library, the Senior Digital Social Café with Greg Doig is at 11:00. Monday Funday at the BIC Center is an Open Mic Night hosted by Herb Ledbetter. And, don’t forget, Monday evenings are All You Can Eat Pizza and Salad night at the Beachcomber. In our Dark Skies this evening and tomorrow evening, watch the waxing gibbous moon near Spica, the brightest star in Virgo the Maiden. You can also catch them until after midnight.
Graphic from earthsky.org via darkskyilsand.org
Tuesday at 9:30, there’s Chair Strength Training up in the Hangout at the BIC Center. At 10:00, Babes & Toddlers mix it up at the library and there is Pickleball outside on the township courts |
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Today’s BIC Center Name of the Day is Julie. If that’s your name, come on down to the BIC Center today to pick out a free drink of your choice. |
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Our Birthday List is empty. But, if we missed you on the list, Happy Birthday to you too from everyone at the BIC Center and WVBI. |
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TRAFFIC: No delays inbound or outbound to the airports. The Island Beltway is running smoothly save for occasional paving delays on East Side Drive and hauling delays by the municipal airport. There are no bridge delays. But, the Island is busier than ever with all the construction traffic, bikers and hikers, fawns and turtles and traffic when the ferry arrives, so let’s be careful out there. |
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Our countdown to 250 continues and on this date in 1775 so did the Battle of Bunker Hill near Boston with the British on the way to suffering more than a thousand casualties. Also today, in 1824, the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs was established, and in 1837, Charles Goodyear received his first rubber patent.
The seal of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, not to be confused with the Island’s Beaver Island Association. Image from Bureau of Indian Affairs |
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is wifty (adjective) [WIF-tee It’s an adjective meaning eccentric, silly, or scatterbrained—something like ditzy. The word dates back to the early 1900s, but its exact origin remains a mystery. Language experts think it may be related to whiff or waft, suggesting someone whose thoughts drift about like a puff of air. So if you’re feeling a little absent-minded today, you might just be wifty. |
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Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Wednesday… |
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Here’s a thought for the day from President Charles Goodyear: “A man has cause for regret only when he sows and no one reaps.” |
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On a lighter note… “I’m exhausted, I need a break!” |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Wednesday, June 17th, 2026. I’m Kevin Boyle reporting from W-V-B-I’s Langford Family Studios wishing you a great day and asking: why not go ahead and make it the best day ever? And thanks for listening. |
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WEATHER |
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[Current Condition Report, then…] |
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Today A slight chance of showers before 8am, then a chance of rain after 2pm. Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 65 at the shore and 77 inland. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Tonight Rain, mainly before 5am. Low around 52. East wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Thursday A chance of rain before 8am, then a slight chance of showers between 8am and 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60/63. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. West wind 10 to 15 mph. Juneteenth Sunny, with a high near 64. West wind around 15 mph. Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 56. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 69/68. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 55. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 70/73. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Monday Sunny, with a high near 70/73. Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 69/72. |
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Air Quality Index at 6:30 was 5. |
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Fire Danger: High |
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Out on the Big Drink…
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Today Variable winds 5 kt or less. A chance of showers, mainly after 4pm. Waves 1 ft or less. Thursday NNW wind around 15 kt becoming W in the afternoon. A chance of showers, mainly before 8am. Waves 1 to 2 ft. Juneteenth W wind 10 to 15 kt. Sunny. Waves around 1 ft. |
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Water Temps: 52 at the mid-lake buoy southwest of Gull Island. 57 at the straits. |
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Photos from webcams at wvbi.net and mackinacbridge.org |
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Coming up in our Community Calendar Report…
Peaine Township explores a low-cost alternative to paving that could dramatically improve some Island roads. We’ll have the latest on summer construction projects, a growing Northern Michigan charity that’s giving away more than $340,000 this year, and a cold case murder conviction nearly four decades in the making. Plus, an update on proposed utility reforms in Lansing, a severe weather alert for travelers, and opportunities to get involved with Beaver Island EMS and the Island’s future broadband network.
…all of that plus a run-down of local events, birthdays and more after this global and national news from F-S-N. [Time check.] |
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Today’s featured image: Paradise Bay was glass smooth this morning as the sun came up. Photo from webcams at wvbi.net |
