Both townships are holding special tax hearings this week looking at increasing amounts collected to fund E-M-S services. Taxpayers have already approved these amounts, but the townships had not levied them. There’s a shortfall in fund this year for E-M-S, apparently because of some billing issues, so an increase is necessary.  After the hearings, each […]

Pollsters say what’s being called the “parental rights” movement could be pivotal in elections this fall in Michigan from the bottom of the ticket to the top. Mobilized over frustration over mask mandates last year, some parents are targeting what they say is a lack of transparency in schools and an over-emphasis on sex, race, […]

Our calendar is abbreviated on this first official day of Fall as I’m across for some meetings in the U-P.  The full report will return on Monday. Here’s a look at what’s happening on your island…   Your meeting planner for next week has just one meeting on tap: Emergency Services Authority meets on Thursday […]

Yesterday’s E-TIPP kick-off meeting had a good turnout with about 15 folks from the island or with connections to the island on the call. Liz Weber from the National Energy Lab introduced participants to the process and stressed that the goal of the project was to support the island in developing energy transition strategies consistent […]

  This morning at 10:00 there’s an E-Tipp Information and Strategy meeting via Zoom with the island’s  National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) Advisor, Liz Weber.  The island was the winner of an E-Tipp grant and this meeting will kick off the process of working to plan for energy reliability, affordability and sustainability on the island. […]

From our Langford Family studios on America’s Emerald Isle, this is the W-V-B-I.  First some news:   The Township Planning Commissions held a joint meeting yesterday to hear a report from their consultants in the on-going project to update the island’s master plan. L-I-A-A personnel participated by Zoom and reported on the results of the […]

There’s another joint planning commission meeting set for this afternoon at 3:00.  It’s another work session on updates to the master plan for the island that will guide planning and enable grant opportunities for the next five years.  That’s out at Peaine Township Hall.   Both Governor Whitmer and her opponent in the race for […]

The Health Department of Northwest Michigan says that the new omicron COVID-19 booster shot is now available up north. Our Health Center is taking sign-ups now to get it as soon as it is shipped across to us.  You can also sign up at locations on the mainland. If you are thinking about a flu […]

Your next trip down to T-C may pass some new construction on the way.  Friske Farm markets is adding a new event pavilion and building a new market at their location south of Charlevoix. The Pavilion will be completed this fall and the new market will open next Memorial Day. They say they’ve run out […]

Michigan’s Court of claims ruled yesterday that the state’s 1931 abortion ban conflicts with the State Constitution. The court permanently prohibited both the attorney general and local prosecutors from enforcing the law. The court said that enforcement of the ban enforcement of the law would “deprive women of their right to bodily integrity and autonomy, […]