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In the wake of a cut-back in senior services on the Island, C-O-A director Amy Wieland has sparked more upset among Islanders by asserting that complaints about changes she has made are from “the same seven percent who complain and are outraged about things they don’t have the whole story for.” In a post that some on the Island saw as inflammatory, she seemed to assert that comparison of the service delivered by the C-O-A on the Island was the “thief of joy.” Charlevoix County Commission Joshua Chamberlain and a number of other non-Islander’s expressed support for Wieland’s work and, seemingly, her post.
#Seniors #LocalGovernance
Our twinned island Arrannmore welcomed Ireland’s president to their shores yesterday. President Catherine Connolly took the Arranmore Blu ferry over for her
morning visit. After meetings with local officials and a trip to the school she headed off to other Islands off the Irish coast.
Catherine Connolly arrives on Arranmore with some Islanders from there who joined Beaver Islanders for the Irish Feile. Photo provided by The Arranmore Ferry
Michigan voters will decide this fall whether to call the state’s first constitutional convention in more than 60 years. Proposal One would allow delegates to rewrite Michigan’s 1963 Constitution. A Detroit News-WDIV poll found 47 percent support the proposal, 31 percent oppose it and 22 percent remain undecided. If approved, voters would elect 148 delegates, and any new constitution they produce would require statewide approval. Opponents warn a convention could create uncertainty and give special interests new influence. Supporters say the current Constitution contains outdated provisions and needs reforms addressing taxes, local control and government transparency.
#Election 2026
In T-C, Cherry Capital Airport is in line for a 750-thousand-dollar federal grant aimed at securing its first nonstop West Coast service. The funding would support seasonal United Airlines flights from Traverse City to either Los Angeles or San Francisco, possibly beginning in 2027. Airport officials caution the grant does not guarantee the route.
#Transportation
Up in the U-P, Michigan foresters have identified a rare stand of old-growth red pines near the Two-Hearted River along Lake Superior. Some may be more than 400 years old. The DNR has designated the 105-acre forest an ecological reference area for conservation and habitat restoration.
#Recreation #Environment
Beaver Island’s Toy Libraries—one at the Public Beach and the other at Iron Ore Bay—are getting ready for winter. Beach toys are being removed, sorted, cleaned
and stored, while the library boxes at both received a much-needed facelift. Thanks to Jennifer and Patty for their end of season work to make sure things are ready for next spring.
The Toy Libraries at the Public Beach and Iron Ore Bay get an end of season facelift. The toys are put away until next spring. Photo provided by Jennifer Holman-Welch via Facebook
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Now here’s a look at upcoming events on your Emerald Isle…
First your meeting planner…
A-A meets tonight and Saturday at 6:00. JTAC has a special meeting today at 4:30. It’s their regular meeting, but rescheduled to a later date. Wildlife Club meets Thursday as well at 7:00.
…and that is it for the week. Locations and more details are in the calendar entries online.
On the fun front today…
Thursday, there’s Pickleball at Peaine Township Park at 9:00. There’s COA Cardio Drumming at 10:00 and Art Therapy at 11:00, both at Peaine Township Hall. 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 Weekly Bocce Ball roll is on at 4:00 on the courts at the Peaine Township Park.
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 Chair Strength Training up in the Hangout. Also, Friday evening at B-I-C-S, the Islander volleyball and soccer squads take on Mackinac Island in games starting at 5:00. And, at the Wild Strawberry, there’s and End of Summer Pizza Party. Their famous pizza back for one night only 4:00 to 7:00.
Friday night is a special pizza night at the Wild Strawberry. They’ll be open 4-7. Image provided by the Wild Strawberry Café via 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.]
Highlights for the rest of the week include…
Saturday, the Islanders take on the Lakers again in volleyball and soccer matches at school. The Artisan’s Market is on at the Point starting at 10:00. Saturday movies are back at the BIC Center. The 3:00 show is Toy Story 5. Woody, Buzz and the gang take on a electronic tablet in the latest from Pixar. It’s rated PG. Then at 6:00, It’s Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender. Avatar Aang learns of an ancient power that could save his culture from extinction. With the help of his friends, he embarks on a global quest to find it before it falls into the wrong hands. It’s rated PG-13. Saturday nights are Prime Rib Night at the Shamrock. And there’s Pickleball outside starting at 7:00 on the township courts.
[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.
Looking ahead to highlights for next week…
Monday, there’s Summer Gentle Flow Yoga in the theater at the BIC Center at 9:30. COA has Cardio Drumming at 10:00 and Art Therapy at 11:00 at Peaine Township Hall. Also, at 11:00, Summer Chair Yoga in the Hangout at the BIC Center. At 5:00, the Senior Digital Café at the library has a session using Google’s power AI tool Gemini. Come learn how Google’s powerful, private digital partner can help you read, learn, and explore your favorite hobbies at your own pace—completely hassle-free! At 6:00, there’s a book study on the book Forgiveness. That’s at the Print Shop Museum. And, don’t forget, Monday evenings are All You Can Eat Pizza and Salad night at the Beachcomber.
Tuesday. at 9:30, there’s Chair Strength Training up in the Hangout at the BIC Center. C-O-A has COA Cardio Drumming at 10:00 and Art Therapy at 11:00 at Peaine Township Hall. Also, at 10:00 there is Pickleball on the Peaine Township Courts and Babes & Toddlers mix it up at the library. And at 11:00, there’s a Health Fair and Immunization Clinic at school. Learn about health resources that are available through the Health Department of Northwest Michigan and the Health Center and get vaccinations up to date. Sign up with the Health Department to get your flu and other vaccines. Call 800-432-4121 to make an appointment.
The Health Center, Health Department and BICS are collaborating to bring you a Community Health Fair and Immunization Clinic on Tuesday, September 29th. Sign up for vaccination times with the Health Department at 800-432-4121. Graphic provided by Beaver Island Rural Health Center and Health Department of Northwest Michigan.
Wednesday, there’s 10:30 there’s Chair Strength training at the BIC Center up in the Hangout. At 3:30, the Lego Club is on at the library. At 4:00 the Amik Cultural Preservation Center will be open. At 5:00, the C-M-U Biological Station holds its annual end of season Community Appreciation gathering. There’ll be drinks, dinner, games on the long and stories or a great summer on the island, some of them true.
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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 Wesson. 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: Michelle LaFreniere, Mary Cook and Brody Johnson are celebrating today. Happy Birthday to Mary, Michelle and Brody, 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 ferry arrives and there are folks soon be out leaf peeping. So, let’s be careful out there.
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On this date in 1906,
President Theodore Roosevelt proclaims Devils Tower in northeastern Wyoming as the nation’s first national monument. Using the newly enacted Antiquities Act, Roosevelt
protects more than eleven hundred acres surrounding the towering rock formation, calling it a natural wonder of great scientific interest. The designation creates a new way for presidents to preserve important American landscapes and historic sites.
Devils Tower looms above the trees waiting for Halloween. Photo by S. Carter from National Park Service
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Our Merriam Webster word of the day is monolith (MON-uh-lith), a noun meaning a single massive stone or something enormous, imposing and seemingly indivisible. It comes from the Greek words monos, meaning single, and lithos, meaning stone. The word can describe a towering rock formation, an ancient stone monument or, figuratively, a large and powerful institution.
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Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Thursday…
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Here’s a thought for the day from President Theodore Roosevelt: “Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.”
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And on a lighter note…
So people wouldn’t take it for granite.
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Thursday, September 24th, 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
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Air Quality Index this morning was 58.
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Fire Danger: High
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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
ESE wind 5 to 10 kt becoming NE in the afternoon. Sunny. Waves 1 ft or less.
Friday
Variable winds 5 kt or less. Mostly cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing. Waves 1 ft or less.
Saturday
Variable winds 5 kt or less. Sunny. Waves 1 ft or less.
Sunday
Variable winds 5 kt or less. Sunny. Waves 1 ft or less.
Monday
Variable winds 5 kt or less. Mostly sunny. Waves 1 ft or less.
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Water Temps: 64 at the mid-lake buoy southwest of Gull Island. 58 in the Straits. 48 at Sleeping Bear and 63 in Little Traverse Bay.
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Photos from webcams at wvbi.net and mackinacbridge.org
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Coming up in our Community Calendar Report…
A social media post from Charlevoix County’s Commission on Aging director adds to the Island controversy over senior services. Ireland’s president visits Arranmore, and Proposal One could trigger a rewrite of Michigan’s Constitution. Plus, possible West Coast flights from T-C and ancient U-P pines.
Those stories along with more local and state news, a run down of local events, birthdays, this date in history and more are up after this global and national news…
[Time check.]
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Today’s featured image: The Toy Libraries at the Public Beach and Iron Ore Bay get an end of season facelift. The toys are put away until next spring. Photo provided by Jennifer Holman-Welch via Facebook
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