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Following some recommendations from the state elections bureau, the Michigan Board of State Canvassers has disqualified 19 candidates from the upcoming August primary ballot including five Republican candidates for governor. Among those getting the boot were former Detroit police chief James Craig and businessman Perry Johnson—both current front runners in the race. Their problems appear to arise from signature fraud perpetrated by paid signature solicitors. Some board members said the candidates were the victims of the fraud, but that it was their responsibility to check the signatures. Disqualified candidates have until June 3rd to appeal the decisions. The Michigan Senate has passed a bipartisan bill to pause gas taxes for the summer, which would take about 50 cents a gallon on average prices across the state and almost 70 cents off on the island. It looks like the House will pass the same proposal and, although Governor Whitmer has previously vetoed similar legislation, her office is signaling that it might get her nod this time, but she is still pressing for broader relief and tax credits for seniors and what her staff calls working families. The annual birding festival is coming up this weekend. While the field trips are sold out, there is still room at three presentations at the BIC Center. On Saturday from 5 to 6 Dr. Nancy Seefelt will make a presentation Warbler identification with an emphasis on those passing through Beaver Island. Sunday at 1:30 tribal biologist Bill Parsons will make a presentation on the recovery of Warblers and Bald Eagles in the Island Archipelago. Then at 2:30 Linnea Rowse from the American Bird Conservancy will make a presentation on forest habitat managements choices that can help with bird conservation. All of the events are open to the public. If you’d like you can reserve a seat online at tickets dot bic center dot org and make a freewill donation there or at the door to support birding on the island. A reminder about the Coast Guard’s warning about using E-15 gas in boats. It can cause fires in engines that aren’t designed to use it—which includes most gasoline boat engines says the Coast Guard. They say you should be sure the fuel you are putting in your boat has no more than 10% ethanol in it. Beware of ticks, though—that according to Veterinarian Dr. Jeff Powers. He says they are especially prevalent this year. So, check yourself and your pets. Be sure your pets are protected and if you find a tick on yourself, experts say you should hold on to it for testing if need be. Drop it in an old medicine bottle and seal it up until you check in with your healthcare provider. A few reminders for you: Michiganders are now eligible for another eight free COVID test kits. You can order yours online at COVIDtests.gov. The link is in today’s script: https://www.covid.gov/tests And, if you have kids, have you signed them up for the library’s summer reading program? This year it is an Ocean of Possibilities with six weeks of distinct themes. Sign up to pick up a bag of materials each week starting June 13th with a final party on August 20th. Materials include books, games, Google cardboard virtual headsets and more. Sign up at the library or give them a call at 2701. |
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Now, here’s a look at what’s happening on your island… Here’s your meeting planner for next week: Peaine Township planning Commission has a meeting set for 9:00 on Wednesday morning at the Township Hall. St. James Finance meets at 1:00 at the Governmental Center. And, B-I-C-S students, teachers and family will meet next Saturday at 1:00 for Graduation out on the soccer pitch behind school. That’s it for the week. Meeting details are in the calendar entries online. On the fun front today, Friday, the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program is on up in the Hangout at 10:30. And, at 12:30 it is time for BINGO brought to you by the C-O-A. Warblers on the Water participants will start arriving Friday with a welcoming at the BIC Center available as they come in. And, of course, Friday kicks off Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial start to summer on the island. Saturday, Pickleball is on 10 to noon. At 5:00 at the BIC Center there’s a presentation on butterflies and warblers in the Theater. And, Saturday evening at 7:00 the first annual Edward Palmer “Is Everyone Happy” party kicks off over in the Holy Cross Hall. Dancing, island music, food and more are planned. Check the BIC Center ticket store for links to get your ticket to attend. Sunday there are services at Holy Cross, the Christian Church, and the Lighthouse fellowship. Times and more details are in the calendar. And, Sunday afternoon there’s a thankyou barbeque out at Antro Vineyards for those who have been working to keep Kate and Adam’s dream of an island winery alive. On Tuesday, the AMVETS will hold their traditional Memorial Day observance at Veteran’s Memorial Park at 11:00. Next weekend, there’ll be two great live performances at the BIC Center. Friday evening it’s the Byrne Brothers with Irish songs, Irish dance and general Irish shenanigans. Saturday night is the first event in the new Beaver Island Jazz series brought to you by the Beaver Island Performing Arts Alliance and the BIC Center. Mark Ortwein and his Jazztet will be here with great charts and their innovative style. It’s jazz with a new and lively twist and distinctive sound. Showtime both evenings is 7:30. Tickets are available at the BIC Center Front Desk and online at Tickets dot BIC Center dot org. And, a final calendar note…tickets for the BIC Center W-V-B-I Secret Garden Summer Gala go on sale tomorrow morning at 9:00. You can get them at the BIC Center front Desk or online at tickets dot BIC Center dot org. This year’s event will be in Gene Masta’s beautiful gardens surrounding the old Lifesaving station that once stood at Whiskey Point…and that is now his summer home. Strolling dinner, music, libations, raffles and both silent and live auctions will add to the fun of mingling with your island friends in the Secret Garden. Monday, Chair Yoga is scheduled up in the Hangout. Start time is 10:30. Tuesday, Pickleball is on at 10:00 over on the Municipal Tennis Courts. The Arthritis Foundation Exercise program is on at 10:30 in the Hangout. The Bodega has called off open mic night tonight. They plan to restart them in June. Wednesday, senior Chair Yoga is on up in the Hangout at the BIC Center at 10:30. And, Wednesday afternoon at 5:00 it is Time for Art at the BIC Center. That will be the last session until fall as we head into the busy summer season. Thursday, Tai Chi is on at the BIC Center at 9:30. Pickleball is on, too, outside on tennis courts from 10 to noon. Games Galore is on up on the Hangout from 1:00 to 4:00. |
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BIRTHDAYS: John Runberg is celebrating today. Tomorrow, Josh Garrett and Coulter Thorson light up the candles. And, Sunday it’s Miranda Rooy and Keith Szczepanski with the honors. Happy to Miranda, Keith, Coulter and Josh and, if we missed you on our list, Happy Birthday to you, too, from all of us at W-V-B-I and your Beaver Island Community Center. |
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TRAFFIC: None. But the rain was added some wash boarding here and there that can throw you of course. And, fawns are dropping everywhere. So, let’s be careful out there. |
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ON THIS DAY in 1937 San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge debuts. After four years of construction, the Golden Gate Bridge opens, connecting San Francisco and Marin County. About 200,000 people walk across the 4,200-foot-long suspension bridge to celebrate. It will open to vehicles the following day. |
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MERRIAM-WEBSTER WORD OF THE DAY: uncanny (adjective) [un-KAN-ee], which is typically used to describe something that is strange or unusual in a way that is surprising or difficult to understand. It can also describe something that seems to have a supernatural character or origin. Uncanny describes that which unsettles us, such as disquieting observations, or mysterious situations and circumstances. Strip the word of its common negating prefix, though, and you’re left with canny, a word that shares semantic territory with clever and prudent. While canny and uncanny don’t appear to be antonyms, they both come from an early Scottish word canny meaning “free from risk; wise, prudent, cautious.” And in Scottish, canny has for centuries had a secondary meaning that correlates better to its mysterious cousin: the Oxford English Dictionary reports that the word is used in negative constructions to describe what is not safe to be involved with, or more broadly, what is not in accordance with what is right or natural. Rather uncanny. |
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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 Truman Capote: “It is easy to ignore the rain if you have a raincoat.” On a lighter note: Why was the overpass so windy? It was a bridge to Fart. |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar for this Beaver Island Friday, May 27th, 2022. I’m Kevin Boyle reporting from W-V-B-I’s Langford Family Studios wishing you a great day—and asking you: why not go ahead and make it the best day ever? And, thanks for listening. |
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Today Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 64. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 41. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Saturday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Sunday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68. South wind 10 to 15 mph. Sunday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. Memorial Day Partly sunny, with a high near 71. Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 53. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. Tuesday Night A chance of showers between 9pm and 3am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. Wednesday Partly sunny, with a high near 67. Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. |
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Out on the Big Drink: |
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Today WNW wind 5 to 10 kt. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. Saturday Variable winds 5 kt or less. Increasing clouds. Waves 1 ft or less. Sunday SSE wind around 10 kt. Mostly cloudy. Waves 1 ft or less. |
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Water Temps: 47 at White Shoal. 38 at the mid-lake buoy southwest of Gull Island. No other stations reporting. Those temps are cold enough to do you in pretty quickly if you wind up in the water with no way to get out. If you are out in a small craft, remember to dress for the water not the weather. |
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