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From our Langford Family studios on America’s Emerald Isle, this is the WVBI Community Calendar for Friday, March 18th, 2022. |
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First some news … The island’s long-standing tradition of making the Great Day matter continues this evening after a two-year, COVID-19 induced pause. Things kick off tonight with live music at both the Shamrock and the Beachcomber. The Brothers Crowe and the The Ben Traverse Band will be here to perform—and Danny Gillespie and friends—including Cindy Gillespie are here to perform, too. Thanks to Carol Burton for getting that all arranged. You can also find Friday night Pizza at Dalwhinnies, barbeque and Donegal Danny’s Pub out at Stoney Acres and local, craft brewed beer and wine at Whiskey Point Brewing Company. Tomorrow, starting at noon, BIC Center will be screening work from former TV nine and ten feature producer Corey Adkins that’s about the island and its history—and efforts to preserve that history in the archipelago. Alan Lomax’s recordings, Ed Palmer and a visit to restore the Squaw Island Light, Saint Patrick’s Day activities, and the glory of summer on the island are among the topics covered. Again, that starts at noon and runs about 90 minutes. It will be followed by Home on the Island, a film that tells the story of Irish immigration to the island and its current connection to Arranmore Island in Ireland, the ancestral home of many of those immigrants. That runs about 30 minutes. Showings will repeat and continue until closing time. At 1:00 on Saturday, the Irish games and sidewalk shenanigans start around 1:00 out in front of the Shamrock. Watch for the Irishditarod Race, the grudge rope-pull match between the fish mongers and the hay seeders and the frozen fish toss. Betting may be involved, but be wary of anyone dressed in green. WVBI’s Songs from the Trail crew will be doing a play by play of the event as part of a live to tape recording of our St. Patrick’s Day Special. That will continue as Brother Crowe and the Ben Traverse Band perform again at the Shamrock and the Beachcomber—with Stoney Acres and the Brewery open for the evening as well. So lots to see and do and plenty of places to get refreshments. The island’s return to traditional celebrations was feature yesterday in a report on Interlochen News radio…by their reporter Patrick Shea, and they’ve graciously given us permission to bring it to you today. |
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Patrick Shea, IPR: Traditional St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations Resume on Beaver Island (4:00-Outcue…MUSIC FADES The story of Beaver Island’s Irish heritage starts on another island — called Árainn Mhór — off the west coast of Ireland. In 1851, more than 200 people were evicted from their homes there. They left for America and most of them settled on Beaver Island. That was the first batch of Irish settlers to arrive there and to this day many residents can trace their lineage back to Árainn Mhór. “On both of my parents’ sides, their grandparents and great-grandparents are from Árainn Mhór,” said Paul Cole, director of the Beaver Island Community Center. Because Beaver Island’s early settlers were so isolated from the mainland, Gaelic was the primary language well into the 1900s. It’s not used in conversation anymore, but some of the island’s roads still have Gaelic names and so do some businesses. “Like Dalwhinnie, which is a deli and a place to eat here on the island,” said Cole. “That’s Gaelic for ‘gathering place.'” Music is a big part of the island’s Irish identity, too. In the 1930s, ethnomusicologist Alan Lomax recorded the music of Irish immigrants on Beaver Island. Those recordings are stored in the Library of Congress. Paul Cole says St. Patrick’s day is a chance to continue celebrating the island’s connection to Ireland. It’s also a chance for family members who have moved away to revisit “America’s Emerald Isle.” “It’s kind of like a homecoming,” Cole said. “Or as we call it a gathering of the clans. Clan na Gael.” And after two years of canceling that homecoming because of COVID, the island is ready to welcome family and friends once again. “Just to be able to get back out, connect and enjoy time with people, to laugh and dance and sing—the energy’s gonna be high,” said Cole. “There’s no doubt about it. It’ll be a really fun time.” “There will be a lot of music,” said Carol Burton, who’s part of a team organizing this year’s festivities. Burton says the music will include a band of islanders playing traditional Irish folk songs. Celebrations will continue through the weekend and will include games like a limerick contest. “We do tug-of-war and different kinds of races,” Burton said. Those include the island’s take on a dog sled race, called the “Irish-A-Rod,” and, last but not least, the fish toss. “It’s just throwing a frozen fish as far as you can,” Burton said. Dominic Gallagher singing, recorded by Alan Lomax in 1938: “…Bound away to Traverse City, our destination to go, We were crossing Lake Michigan where the stormy winds blow. We left Traverse City at nine the next day And down to Elk Rapids we then bore our way, We took in our store and to sea we did go, We were crossing Lake Michigan where the stormy winds blow…” |
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In other news, nothing new on the COVID-19 data front from the Health Center. There are no known active cases on the island. The next batch of state data comes out this afternoon. We’ll take a look at it on Monday. |
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Now, here’s a look at what’s happening on your island… Here’s your meeting planner for next week: Just one showing up—the Elks club at Peaine Township Hall at 5:00 Thursday afternoon. Nothing else on the calendar right now. Meeting details are in the calendar entries online. On the fun front today, Friday, Pickleball is on—in the Theater at the BIC Center at 10:00. Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program is on up in the Hangout at 10:30 and at noon it’s C-O-A’s winter BINGO game also here at the BIC Center. And, starting at 1:00 up in the Hangout, we’ll be showing Corey Adkins specials on the island along with Home on the Island on the big screen over the public use TVs. That’s to make up for a technical SNAFU yesterday caused by yours truly that botched up the start of those… Saturday, there are all the activities we covered in our news at the start—the games, music, special all day showing of films on island history at the BIC center and more. Sunday there are services at Holy Cross, the Christian Church, and the Lighthouse fellowship. Times and more details are in the calendar. Monday, Chair Yoga is on up ion the Hangout. Start time is 10:00. Tuesday, Tai Chi is on up in the Hangout at 9:30. Pickleball is on at 10:00 in the Theater. The Arthritis Foundation Exercise program is on at 10:30 in the Hangout. Wednesday, Nothing but Needles is on at the Peaine Township Hall. That event for crafters starts at 9:00. Also, it’s C-O-A’s Chair Yoga at 10:30. Wednesday evening it’s Time for Art at the BIC Center with Cindy Ricksgers. Start time is 5:00. Thursday, Tai-Chi is at 9:30 and Pickleball at 10 both here at the BIC Center. Tai-Chi in the Hangout and Pickleball in the Theater. Games Galore is on up in the Hangout from 1:00 to 4:00 and stick around for with Heidi Vigil’s ComminiTea Time from 3:00 to 4:00—also in the Hangout. Thursday evening, you can play Euchre Thursday over at the Whiskey Point Brewing Company. Cards hit the table at 7:00. |
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BIRTHDAYS: Brian Cole, Tyker Bosquet, Shyeanne Woodring and Hannah Middleton are celebrating today. Tomorrow, Hillary Palmer, Colleen Martin, and Elsie Burton all celebrate…and Sunday Larry Kubic. Happy Birthday to Elsie, Colleen, Hillary, Hannah, Shyeanne, Brian, Tyler and Larry and, if we missed you on the list, Happy Birthday to you from all of us at W-V-B-I and your Beaver Island Community Center. |
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TRAFFIC: More than we’ve seen in a while with lots of folks in town for St. Paddy’s Day celebrations in two years. Many of the dirt roads on the island are saturated with water with a slurry that can swallow your tires in a hurry…and send you of course in way that makes things blurry. So, let’s be careful out there. |
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ON THIS DAY in 1986 reports surface that a 17-year-old student in New Jersey had tracked the launch of the new Soviet space station, Mir, before the Soviet government formally announced it. With a group of friends, Phillip Naranjo tracked transmissions between space vessels and control centers on Earth. (Bing.com) |
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WORD OF THE DAY: nascent (adjective) [NASS-unt], which means “coming or having recently come into existence.” Nascent comes from nascens, the present participle of the Latin verb nasci, which means “to be born.” It is related to words such as nation, native, nature, and innate. (Merriam-Webster) |
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Now, to wrap up for this for Beaver Island Friday… |
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Here’s a thought for the day from St. Patrick: “May the strength of God pilot us, may the wisdom of God instruct us, may the hand of God protect us, may the word of God direct us. Be always ours this day and for evermore.” On a lighter note: Here’s some advice from Saint Patrick: Never trust a dog to watch your food. |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar for this Beaver Island Friday, March 18th, 2022. I’m Kevin Boyle reporting from W-V-B-I’s Langford Family Studios wishing you a great day along with safe celebrations this weekend– and asking you: why not go ahead and make it the best day ever? And, thanks for listening. |
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Today A slight chance of rain between 2pm and 4pm, then rain and snow likely. Cloudy, with a high near 36. East wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible. Tonight Rain and snow likely before 8pm, then snow. Patchy fog. Steady temperature around 34. East wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of around 2 inches. Saturday Snow likely before 2pm, then a chance of rain and snow. Patchy fog before noon. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 36. Northeast wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible. Saturday Night A 30 percent chance of rain before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 24. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 36. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 25. Monday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37. Monday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. Tuesday Partly sunny, with a high near 37. Tuesday Night A chance of rain and snow between 8pm and 9pm, then a chance of snow after 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. Wednesday Rain and snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36. Wednesday Night A chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. Thursday Partly sunny, with a high near 36. |
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Community Calendar for Friday, March 18th, 2022
