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Peaine Township has begun the first of two vault toilet upgrades planned for this summer. The projects, at Bill Wagner Memorial Campground and the Lake Geneserath Boat Launch, will give the township three universally accessible vault toilets when completed. The work is supported by two $10,000 Charlevoix County parks grants, along with an additional $3,000 contribution from the Charlevoix County Community Foundation. Township officials say the upgrades will improve access and expand recreation opportunities for residents and visitors alike.
The Health Department of Northwest Michigan has launched its annual beach monitoring program, testing water quality at about 50 public beaches in Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, and Otsego counties—including public beaches on the Island. Beaches are checked weekly for E. coli bacteria. If unsafe levels are found, advisory signs will be posted and the beach retested daily until conditions improve. Results are available online through the Health Department and the state beach monitoring website. There’s a link for that in today’s script online.
BeachGuard map for the island available at https://mienviro.michigan.gov/nsite/beach/map/results. Image from Michigan BeachGuard Portal
In other water news, scientists say the invasive bloody red shrimp is now established in all five Great Lakes after dozens of adults and juveniles were found in Lake Superior last summer. The tiny crustacean, likely introduced through ship ballast water, was first detected in the Great Lakes in 2006. Researchers say its long-term impact remains uncertain, but studies elsewhere have linked it to declines in native zooplankton populations.
The Michigan Court of Appeals has upheld the state’s law against interfering with police officers on duty. The ruling stemmed from a 2022 Upper Peninsula traffic stop where a man recording troopers repeatedly ignored orders to stay back and stop shining a light in an officer’s eyes. The court said people have a right to film police, but officers may impose reasonable restrictions to safely do their jobs.
Back on the Island, a good crowd gathered Friday evening for Islander Jake Bontrager’s book reading and signing at the library. Jake read from his book Subject 77-B. You can check out a copy at the library.
Jake Bontrager reads from his book Subject 77-B at the library on Friday. Photo by Kris Bontrager The theme for this year’s Vacation Bible School has been announced. It’s Rainforest Falls: Exploring the Nature of God. Sessions run from July 6th to 9th from 8:40 to 11:45 each day at the Gregg Fellowship Center. It’s free and brought to you by the churches of Beaver Island. You can register your kids or volunteer by emailing beaver island Christian church at g-mail dot com
Vacation Bible School runs from June 6th to 9th at the Gregg Fellowship Center. Image from Beaver Island Christian Church
And, some schedule notes for you: The Community Meeting on Broadband that was set for tomorrow evening has been postponed. It will be rescheduled to a date after the Independence Day holiday. The Open Mic Night planned for this evening at the BIC Center ahs been cancelled. And, Wild Strawberry Café has switched to their summer hours. Monday through Thursday 8 to 2, Friday and Saturday 7 to 2 and Sundays 7 to noon, |
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Now here’s a look at other upcoming events on your Emerald Isle…
First your meeting planner…
A-A meets Saturday at 6:00 and next Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday same time all at the Christian Church. That’s it on the meeting front through the end of next week.
On the fun front today…
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. 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. The Joint Telecommunications Advisory Committee information session on broadband has been postponed until after the Independence Day holiday.
Wednesday, the Open Hands Café: Breakfast Club runs 8:00 until 10:00 a.m. at the G-F-C. At 1:00, there’s Seniors BINGO at the BIC Center. And at 4:00, the Amik Cultural Preservation Center will be open.
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. And, Thursday evening is Burger and a Beer Night at the Shamrock.
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. At 7:00, the library will feature author Steve Brown in a discussion about his book with a reading and signing.
[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. At the library, there’ll be a writer’s workshop from noon to 4:00 on writing poems about the real world. It will be led by author Steve Brown. At 3:00 at the CMU biological station, there’s a Plant and Horticulture Seminar with a look at Strategies for Conservation and Landscaping in Residential Design. And at 6:30, dinner will be served at the BIC Center ahead of a performance by Michael Carlucio with Proud to be an American. Classic songs. Timeless charm and a delicious dinner worthy of a New York supper club. 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, 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.]
Highlights for the rest of the week include…
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…
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Those are the highlights. Find a full listing of events at calendar dot W-V-B-I dot net. |
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Today’s BIC Center Name of the Day is Kim. 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 today is Karen Johnson. Happy Birthday to Karen, and 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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In our countdown to 250, on this date in 1775, the Second Continental Congress authorized two million dollars in paper currency, known as “Continentals,” to help fund the new Continental Army in the opening months of the American Revolution. And on this date in 1813, during the War of 1812, Canadian heroine Laura Secord set out on a 32-kilometer journey to warn British forces of an American attack. Her warning helped lead to a British and Indigenous surprise victory at the Battle of Beaver Dams, one of the most famous episodes of the war. By the by, the battle wasn’t over beaver dams; it just happened in a region in the Niagara peninsula where beaver dams were common.
Continental Currency banknotes from November 29, 1775 and May 20, 1777. Notice the change in name at the top of the bill. Images from Wikimedia Commons |
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is cavalcade (noun) [kav-ul-KAYD A cavalcade is a series of related things, or a procession of riders, vehicles, or even ships moving together. The word traces back to a Latin term for horse, reflecting its roots in horseback parades. Today, it can describe anything from a parade down Main Street to a cavalcade of events, memories, or ideas. |
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Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Monday… |
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Here’s a thought for the day from loyalist Laura Secord: “I have done what I could.” |
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On a lighter note… “Is the bar tender here?” |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Monday, June 22nd, 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 between 8am and 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 64 by the shore, 68 inland. North wind around 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 50. North wind around 10 mph. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 63/68. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Tuesday Night A 20 percent chance of showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east after midnight. Wednesday A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62/65. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Wednesday Night Showers likely before 8pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and 11pm, then a chance of showers after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Chance of precipitation is 60%. |
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Air Quality Index at 7:35 was 11. |
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Fire Danger: Moderate |
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Out on the Big Drink…
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Today NNE wind around 10 kt becoming NNW in the afternoon. Sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. Tuesday N wind 5 to 10 kt becoming W in the afternoon. Mostly sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. Wednesday SSE wind 5 to 10 kt. Showers before 1pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 1pm and 4pm, then showers likely after 4pm. Waves 1 ft or less. |
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Water Temps: 55 at the mid-lake buoy southwest of Gull Island. 59 at the straits. |
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Coming up in our Community Calendar Report…
Peaine Township is upgrading two more vault toilets, bringing the total number of universally accessible facilities in the township to three. We’ll also tell you about beach water testing now underway across Northern Michigan, including on Beaver Island, a newly established invasive species in all five Great Lakes, a Michigan court ruling on recording police, a successful book signing by Island author Jake Bontrager, details on this year’s Vacation Bible School, and a few schedule changes you’ll want to know about including postponement of the Community Meeting on Broadband.
…those stories, more local news, 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: Jake Bontrager reads from his book Subject 77-B at the library on Friday. Photo by Kris Bontrager |
Photos from webcams at wvbi.net and mackinacbridge.org .jpg){kind=link}
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