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The Secretary of State’s office says Michigan voters turned out in record numbers for Tuesday’s August primary. Nearly 2.6 million ballots were cast statewide, about two percent more than the previous record set in 2020. Turnout was even stronger on Beaver Island: 42 percent in Peaine Township and nearly 36 percent in St. James. #Election 2026
Federal monitors sent to four Michigan cities for Tuesday’s primary caused no disruptions, according to election officials. Justice Department observers were stationed in Detroit, Lansing, East Lansing and Hamtramck to monitor election procedures. Despite concerns about their presence, local officials say the monitors were polite and unobtrusive, and did not interfere with voting. #Election 2026
In T-C, Grand Traverse County prosecutors say 10 to 15 cases identified in a report on decades of alleged sexual misconduct at Interlochen Center for the Arts may still be eligible for prosecution. The report detailed about 70 allegations involving 47 accused perpetrators over 75 years. Prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg says her office is gathering more information to determine which cases remain within Michigan’s statutes of limitations before referring them to the sheriff’s office for investigation.
On the Island, the sold-out BIC Center W-V-B-I Havana Nights Gala had enthusiastic crowds enjoying a delicious Cuban dinner and music all while enjoying each other’s company and lots of auction fun. The event was also a successful fund-raiser for the Community Center and W-V-B-I. It was great to see a full house of Islanders gathered to support the BIC Center and W-V-B-I. #Events
The BIC Center WVBI Havanah Nights Gala included a fantastic meal, fund-raising with live and silent auctions, raffles and dancing. Photos by Kevin Boyle
There’s Lake Michigan whitefish for sale at the L-T-T-B dock by the Toy Museum. You can just drop by or grab contact info from today’s script. #Economy
The whitefish are in at the LTBB Dock. Photo provided by Heidi Bearss via Facebook
A GoFundMe is raising money for Michael Pike after a serious accident while he was repairing a garage door. A piece of metal severed several arteries in his arm. Pike used his belt as a tourniquet and called for help before neighbors came to his aid. He was eventually flown to McLaren Hospital in Petoskey for emergency treatment. There’s a link to the GoFundMe in today’s script online. #Community
The Shamrock is looking for a bar tender, full or part-time. Contact Dana Hodgson if you are interested. |
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Now here’s a look at other upcoming events on your Emerald Isle…
First your meeting planner…
A-A meets tonight and Saturday at 6:00. That’s it through the end of the week. Next week, there’s a Community Broadband Forum at the BIC Center on Monday at 5:00. The Irish Heritage Group Meets Tuesday at 5:30. Transportation Authority meets Wednesday at noon. A-A meets Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 6:00
…and that is it for next week. Locations and more details are in the calendar entries online.
On the fun front today…
Friday, there’s Senior and Vets Coffee and Donuts from 8:30 to 10:30 in the Welcome Center at the BIC Center. At 9:00 A-M Pickleball Outdoors on the Peaine Township courts. Back at the BIC Center at 9:30, there’s Summer Yoga in the Theater plus Chair Strength Training up in the Hangout. Homecoming events get underway at 12:45 with the national anthem and first pitch of the Annual Bud McDonough Memorial Softball Tournament. The start of men’s tournament will fill Friday afternoon, with the women taking to the field Friday evening. Dinner options on Friday include the Elks Burger Night at the G-F-C. It’s drive through service only with ten-buck burgers and sides available, too. Service is from 5:00 to 60. Also Friday evening, there’s a Save Gull Harbor Gathering from 5:00 to 10:00. There’ll be D-J music with D-J Butch. Bring lawn chairs plus snacks and refreshments to enjoy while rallying to save access to Gull Harbor Drive.
[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, Homecoming activities continue with the annual Golf Tournament teeing off at 9:00. There’s still time to sign up or sponsor a hole. Call the pro shop at 2301 for details. The Artisan’s Market is on at the Point starting at 10:00. Also, at 10:00, the Softball Tournament resumes. At 11:00, there’s a Peace Pole celebration at the library that will honor peace in all four languages of the Island. Protar’s House will be open for tours from 1:00 to 3:00. A celebration of the life of James Allan Cull is set for 2 p.m. at Holy Cross Cemetery. There’ll be a memorial ride to the Point, a graveside service, and a final toast at Angeline’s Bluff. And Saturday nights are Prime Rib Night at the Shamrock, and Paul Lamb & Friends will play at the Beachcomber. At 10:30, head to the little Sand Bay Nature preserve parking area for a dark sky viewing event. The Dark Sky Project team will be there to view the moonless sky via 16″, 10″, 9.25″ telescopes and large astronomical binoculars. Bring red lights to preserve night vision and avoid attracting bugs!
[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 the Amik Cultural Center is open 1 to 3 PM. And, it’s the annual Homecoming Chicken Dinner at Holy Cross Hall. That starts at 4:30 and runs until the food is gone.
Looking ahead to highlights for next week…
Monday, at 9:30, summer yoga is on at the BIC Center. It’ll be a session on Basic Flow. COA has Cardio Drumming at 10:00 and Art Therapy at 11:00 at Peaine Township Hall. At 11:00, there’s Summer Therapeutic Chair Yoga at the BIC Center and over at the library, it’s the Senior Digital Café. At 5:00, there’s Community Broadband Meeting at the BIC Center. Learn about the fiber connections to the mainland now under construction and the opportunity for Island-wide fiber. Ask questions. Have your say. And, don’t forget, Monday evenings are All You Can Eat Pizza and Salad night at the Beachcomber, so you can go next door to grab dinner before or after the show.
Tuesday, at 9:00 there is Pickleball on the Peaine Township Courts. 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. At11:30, there’s drop-off and set-up for the Quilt Show at the Beaver Island Gallery. At 7:00, there’s a presentation on astronomy at the Biological Station. It’s Fire from the Sky: Viewing the Perseid Meteor Shower presented by Professor Kevin Dehne of Delta College. Also at 7:00, TUNES has a Traditional Tune Workshop at the Brother’s Place. All ages and skill levels are welcome. Email tunes@tunesmusicmakers.org to register.
The TUNES Workshop events are coming next week. First up is a Traditional Tunes Workshop. Register at tunes@tubesmusicmakers.org. Image from TUNES via WVBI Community Calendar
Wednesday, there’s Summer Restorative Yoga BIC Center at 9:30. Also at 10:00, there’s American Mah Jongg at the BIC Center in the Hangout, and at 1:00 there is Afternoon Bingo. Protar’s House will be open from 1:00 to 4:00, and at 4:00 the Amik Cultural Preservation Center will be open. TUNES workshops continue with a session on Percussive Dance. That’s at 7:00 on the stage at the BIC Center.
Thursday, there’s Pickleball at Peaine Township Park at 9:00. The COA’s normal Cardio Drumming and Art Therapy is off today on vacation. Those sessions return mid-August. 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. The Annual Quilt Show opens at 11:30 at the Beaver Island Gallery. See the latest work by Island artists alongside the first and latest quilts made by students at B-I-C-S. The Weekly Bocce Ball rolls is on at 4:00 on the courts at the Peaine Township Park. And, Thursday evenings are Burger and a Beer Night at the Shamrock. TUNES Presents continues with their week of workshops with a session on singing Beaver Island and Great Lakes Songs. That’s at the Brother’s Place. At the BIC Center, Claudia Schmidt and Sally Rogers take to the stage for a night of folk and jazz. Showtime is 7:30. Tickets are at tickets dot bic center dot org.
Claudia Schmidt returns to the BIC Center with Sally Rogers on Thursday for another unforgettable evening of song, story, and harmony. Tickets are available at the BIC Center Front Desk or online at tickets.biccenter.org. Graphic provided by BIC Center |
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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 Amelia. 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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On our Birthday List: Sue Avery and Carter Meintsma are celebrating today. Happy Birthday to Sue and Carter, 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. There are no bridge delays. But, it is busy in town when the ferries arrive and there are lots of folks out hiking and biking. So, let’s be careful out there. |
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On this date in 1782, General George Washington creates the Badge of Military Merit, ordering that enlisted soldiers can receive the badge for “singularly meritorious action,” an unusual recognition at a time when military honors generally went to officers. The modern Purple Heart, bearing Washington’s profile, is established in 1932 on the 200th anniversary of his birth. In 1942, U-S Marines land on Guadalcanal, beginning America’s first major offensive against Japan in World War Two. Many troops earn the decoration Washington created. And in 1974, French high-wire artist Philippe Petit walks between the twin towers of New York’s World Trade Center—more than 13-hundred feet above the ground. He spends about 45 minutes on the wire, making eight crossings before stepping back onto the roof—where police are waiting to arrest him. U.S. First Division Marines storm ashore across Guadalcanal’s beaches on August 7, 1942. U.S. Marine Corps Photo from Wikimedia |
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is invidious (adjective) [in-VID-ee-us], and adjective that means likely to cause resentment, offense, or ill will, especially because something seems unfair or discriminatory. It can also describe something unpleasant or objectionable. It comes from the Latin invidiosus [in-vid-ee-OH-sus], meaning “envious” or “causing envy,” from invidia [in-VID-ee-ah]—envy or ill will. That’s also where we get the word envy. |
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Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Friday… |
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Here’s a thought for the day from high wire performer Philippe Petit: “When you are a young person, the world is yours. You can do the impossible.” |
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On a lighter note… Tightrope walking! |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Friday, August 7th, 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 Mostly sunny, with a high near 74/79. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Smoke haze is expected to return to us this morning around 10:00 and linger until 11:00 this evening. Tonight A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 11pm and 2am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 65. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Saturday A 30 percent chance of showers before 8am. Partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 73/76. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Smaoke haze comes back at 10:00pm. Sunday A slight chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 74/81. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Sunday Night A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Monday A 30 percent chance of showers after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 74/81. Monday Night A chance of showers before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 75/79. Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. Wednesday A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 74/78. Wednesday Night A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 72/76. |
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Air Quality Index at 8:32 was 82. |
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Fire Danger: Moderate |
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Out on the Big Drink…
Photo from the North Lake Michigan Buoy. Provided by the National Data Buoy Center |
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Today SW wind around 10 kt. Mostly sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. Saturday WNW wind around 10 kt. Mostly sunny. Waves around 1 ft. Sunday SW wind around 10 kt. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Waves around 1 ft. Monday Variable winds 5 kt or less. A chance of showers after 1pm. Waves 1 ft or less. Tuesday Variable winds 5 kt or less. Mostly sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. |
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Water Temps: 67 at the mid-lake buoy southwest of Gull Island. 71 at Sleeping Bear and in Little Traverse Bay. 70 in 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…
Record turnout in Michigan’s primary, prosecutors look at possible criminal cases following the Interlochen abuse report, and a successful Havana Nights fundraiser on the Island. Plus, fresh whitefish is in, and Islanders are rallying to help Michael Pike after a serious accident. Those stories and more are ahead after this global and national news from F-S-N. [Time check.] |
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Today’s featured image: Islanders dance the night away after raising funds for the BIC Center and WVBI at Holy Cross Hall at the BIC Center WVBI Havanah Nights Gala. Photo by Kevin Boyle |
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