From studios in the BIC Center on America’s Emerald Isle, this is the W-V-B-I Community Calendar for Good Friday, April 10th, 2020.
First, some news…
Governor Whitmer has dropped the latest version of her stay at home order. It extends the time to stay home through April and mandates that stores that have remained open close all non-essential section—like gardening sections, paint and so on. The order also restricts travel between two homes in Michigan after the end of today, April 10th, but allows those with homes out of state to move between them—so snow birds can still consider returning. Stay at home orders are now in effect in at least 42 states keeping at least 316 million people at home, that according to the New York Times. Their legality remains untested.
The COVID-19 death tally in Michigan now stands at 1,076 with 21. 504 confirmed cases. That’s up 117 and 1,158 respectively. That’s the fourth day in a row that there have been more than 100 deaths. But here’s some good news. 56 recovered cases so far as the state finally begins to report on that.
On the island, still no new cases, but there is still one pending COVID-19 test outstanding. Two others have come back negative. Over on the near-shore mainland, the tally now stands at 89 total up 2 from yesterday. 29 in Otsego County up one. Grand Traverse has 15. Emmet 16 up one, Charlevoix 9 up 1, Kalkaska 10 Antrim 6 and Leelanau 4. 9 deaths in the region with no increase for two days. Up in the UP, there are 41 cases same as yesterday, but now 5 deaths, which is up 1 from yesterday.
The CDC is now asking that you wear a face mask or cover your face if you are out of the house around other people. If you’re looking for one, the Health Center can help with that thanks to some handy craftwork by Pam Grassmick, Mary Ellen Dawson, Carolyn Works and others. Call the health Center at 2275 for details on how to pick one up if you need one.
School is cancelled in person through the end of the academic year, but online classes will begin on Monday after an extended spring break. Jury is still out on BASH and Graduation. BICS principal and superintendent Wil Cwikiel will be in to talk to us tomorrow about the details on the plans for school going forward.
On Wednesday, Enbridge submitted its formal application for a permit to build the Line 5 tunnel under the straits. The proposed system would replace two 67-year-old oil pipelines there now. Tribal leaders and others have questioned the state about reviewing permits at this time pointing out that the opportunity for public participation would be severely constrained during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tribal governments in the Straits area are all opposed to the tunnel. The Michigan Advisory Council on Environmental Justice has expressly asked the Governor to extend the time periods for processing of the application. The Governor has yet to respond.
Luckily for the children of Michigan, Gov. Whitmer confirmed the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy are “essential” workers and will be allowed to continue spreading joy while the stay-at-home order continues. That’s especially good news for those expecting a visit from the Easter Bunny this weekend.
A few reminders:
Island fire and E-M-S personnel want you to practice situational awareness. Don’t do things that put you at risk. COVID-19 procedures can slow their response time, and they want to avoid unnecessary exposure risks for critical personnel.
And don’t forget that the 2020 census. Even if you don’t get a letter from the Census Bureau, you can go ahead and complete the census online. Just go to 2020-census dot gov and, when you are asked for the code from your census letter, click the box saying you didn’t receive one and go ahead and enter your Beaver Island address. Of course, if you did get the letter, fill in the code. It is important for all island residents to complete the census because those number will be used to allocate resources for the next 10 years.
Looking for the latest island info on COVID-19? Check the W-V-B-I COVID-19 info page for details. You can find that by going to W-V-B-I dot net and clicking on COVID-19 Info in the menu at the top. You’ll find official information from the townships, our latest COVI-19 news and updates as well as state and federal news and resources.
You can find information on events planned for the summer on our Discover Beaver Island Summer calendar. Just point your browser at summer dot w-v-b-I dot net.
Weather, here there and everywhere – presented every day with the support of your McDonough’s Market:
Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 39. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 24. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light west after midnight. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 46. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Saturday Night A 50 percent chance of showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. South wind 5 to 15 mph. Sunday A 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 45. Northeast wind around 10 mph. Sunday Night Rain showers before 1am, then rain and snow showers. Low around 32. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Monday Rain and snow showers before 10am, then rain showers between 10am and 5pm, then rain and snow showers likely after 5pm. High near 39. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Monday Night Rain and snow showers likely, becoming all snow after 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. Windy. Tuesday A chance of snow showers before 1pm, then a chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36. Breezy. Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. Wednesday A chance of snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 35. Wednesday Night A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 39.
TRAFFIC: Glare from an unfamiliar yellow orb in the sky is causing occasional vision problems and delays today. And scaring all the critters apparently. None out this morning. But, let’s be careful out there. Have your yellow orb shades ready.
BIRTHDAYS: Olya Stebbins and Liam Hodgson are celebrating today. Happy birthday to Olya and Liam, and, if we missed you on our list, Happy Birthday to you, too, from all of us at WVBI and your Beaver Island Community Center.
ON THIS DAY in 1998 the Good Friday Agreement brings peace to Northern Ireland. Three decades of conflict known as ‘The Troubles,’ and two years of peace talks, are resolved on this Good Friday with the signing of a power-sharing agreement between Northern Ireland’s Protestant and Catholic populations. Northern Ireland’s present devolved system of government is based on the agreement. The agreement also created a number of institutions between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and between the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom. (bing.com and Wikipedia)
WORD OF THE DAY permeate (PER-mee-ayt) [verb] which means: : to diffuse through or penetrate something; 2 : to spread or diffuse through; 3 : to pass through the pores or interstices of. It’s no surprise that permeate means “to pass through something”—it was borrowed into English in the 17th century from Latin permeatus, which comes from the prefix per- (“through”) and the verb meare, meaning “to go” or “to pass.” Meare itself comes from an ancient root that may have also led to Middle Welsh and Czech words meaning “to go” and “to pass,” respectively. Other descendants of meare in English include permeative, permeable, meatus (“a natural body passage”), and the relatively rare irremeable (“offering no possibility of return”). (merriam-webster.com)
Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Thursday…
Here’s a thought for the day from David Attenborough: “Cherish the natural world because you’re a part of it and you depend on it.” On a lighter note: Did you hear about the two thieves who stole the WVBI birthday calendar? The each got six months.
SAD TROMBONE SFX EDIT.FLAC
That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar for Friday, April 10th, 2020. I’m Kevin Boyle reporting from the pest free Hogarth Pest Control Studios of the Voice of Beaver Island wishing you a good day on this Good Friday…and a Happy Easter and asking: why not go ahead and make it the best Easter ever? And, thanks for listening.
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