Rep. Fairbairn named to select committee, will lead charge to restore tip credit, save small businesses
The Select Committee to Protect Michigan Workers and Small Businesses was officially formed Thursday
State Rep. Parker Fairbairn on Thursday was appointed to serve on a select committee formed to address a Michigan Supreme Court decision from last summer that tipped-workers and small businesses say will have a devastating effect on their livelihoods. Without legislative intervention, the changes will go into effect Feb. 21.
“Our small businesses and tipped-wage workers are staring down the barrel of significant layoffs and potential closures without immediate legislative intervention,” said Fairbairn, R-Harbor Springs. “For months, servers from Petoskey to Sault Ste Marie made it crystal clear, if this matter isn’t addressed quickly, it would be economically devastating to them. In fact, my chief concern coming to Lansing was figuring out how I could achieve immediate action on this issue, when things have seemed to move so slowly for the past couple of years. So, it’s great that less than 24 hours into the new session, Speaker Hall has already established this select committee and entrusted me with the responsibility of getting this done.”
The court decision puts unrealistic mandates on small businesses regarding wages and sick leave while phasing out the tip credit, which provides a key source of income for workers and is often more than someone would make with an increased minimum wage – notably in the service industry.
The Select Committee to Protect Michigan Workers and Small Businesses was formed with the sole focus of addressing tipped-wage and earned sick time legislation. The committee is set to consider House Bills 4001 and 4002, introduced yesterday by Reps. John Roth, R-Interlochen, and Jay DeBoyer, R-Clay Township.
The bills will are intended to address the problem created by a court decision from last summer that focused on a procedural matter of government rather than the real world issues at hand while striking a needed balance between fostering economic growth, protecting livelihoods, and preventing business closures.
Yesterday, state Senators also introduced their own legislation to address the tip credit and Earned Sick Time Act.
“We’re living in split government, meaning any fix to the tip credit or paid sick leave must be bipartisan,” Fairbairn said. “I’m sure the House and Senate plans have differences that we’ll have to hash out – but what’s important right now is that both chambers recognize the sheer urgency of getting something done. I appreciate the trust and confidence that Speaker Hall has demonstrated by appointing me to this important committee as a freshman lawmaker.”
The House committee is set to hold its first meetings next week.
Also on the Island, with Wicked finally released for local display, a screening of it has been set for the last Saturday of the month. That will be the 25th at 7:00 as part of a special event at the BIC Center: One Short Day in the Emerald City that will include the screening of the original Wizard of Oz at 4:00 along with special events More details to come, but mark your calendar now for this special Emerald City Day on the Emerald Isle.
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Now, here’s a look at events happening on your Emerald Isle…
First your meeting planner for the week.
Monday
6:00pm Committee of the Whole Meeting at BICS
6:30pm School Board Meeting at BICS
Tuesday
12:00pm Beaver Island Transportation Authority Board Meeting
5:30pm Peaine Township Board Meeting
Thursday
4:30pm Beaver Island District Library Board Meeting
4:30pm Beaver Island Telecommunications Advisory Committee Meeting at BICC
A-A meets Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 6:00. That’s it on the meeting front. Locations and more details are in the calendar entries online for all meetings.
On the fun front today…
5:00pm Qigong Practice at BICC
Tuesday
9:30am Talking Threads
10:00am Babies and Toddlers MixUp
10:00am Pickleball at BIC Center
10:30am Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program at BICC
11:30am Senior Tai Chi at BICC
2:30pm Story Time at the Library
6:00pm Let’s Get Quizzical! – Trivia Night at BICC no fee register store.bicc.org
Wednesday
12:30pm Paradise @ BI Boys & Girls Basketball (No Overnight)
1:00pm COA BINGO at BICC
3:00pm Book Club: Sweet Blue Distance at BIDL
5:00pm Time for Art at BICC
7:00pm Medical First Responder Class at school
Thursday
½ day school and Friday
10:00am Pickleball at BIC Center
10:00am Women’s Bible Study Christian Church
11:00am Chair Yoga at BICC
5:00pm Burger & a Beer at Shamrock
7:00pm Euchre Night at WPBC
7:00pm Medical First Responder Class at school
Friday, Senior and Vets Coffee and Donuts is at the BIC Center from 9:00 to 11:00. Pickleball is from 10:00 to noon in the theater at the BIC Center. The Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program is on at 10:30 in the Hangout.
The Charlevoix County Commission on Aging is sponsoring a special Monthly Meal on Friday, January 17 from 11:30 AM -12:30 PM, at Gregg Fellowship Hall. There are 50 meals available. Please call 231-237-0103 to sign up for the luncheon. Cost is $3.00 for those 60 and older. If a Senior’s spouse is under 60, they can also dine for $3.00. Participants can pay for the meal when they arrive. (If by Wednesday, January 15 all 50 meals have not sold out, the meal will be open to those under age 60 for $8.00.)
Please join us at the BIC Center on Friday, January 17, at 6 PM for a thought-provoking screening of The Social Dilemma. This compelling documentary dives into the hidden impact of social media on society, featuring insights from tech insiders who helped create the platforms we use every day.
[On the radio, you’ll hear our fantastic Friday evening lineup of shows to kick off the weekend. Right after the news at 6:00 there’s That Thing with Rich Appel, that top-down top forty sound from the 70s that so much fun. He’s followed at 9:00 by Titus Jennings with the Titus Jennings experience and lots of fine music from all genres and then is music and farce comedy and escape with Marilyn Rea Beyer and the Midnight special starting at 11:00.]
On Saturday,
2:00pm Fiero Code Club at BIDL
2:00pm Teen Café- Princess Bride Movie at BIDL
4:00pm Movie at BICC The Princess Bride – A bedridden boy’s grandfather reads him the story of a farmboy-turned-pirate who encounters numerous obstacles, enemies and allies in his quest to be reunited with his true love.
5:00pm Prime Rib Night at Shamrock
[On the radio, tune in for Country Classics at 5:00 Saturday evening with host Sheri Timsak. At 7:00, Jackson Smith and Steve Girbach are in with Songs from the Trail. 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.]
On Sunday, there are services at the Christian Church at 10:00. Mass at Holy Cross is at 12:15.
4:00pm Cancer Support Group
Cancer Support Group
@ 4:00pm
Beaver Island Rural Health Center
Come join your friends, island neighbors, and family who have had, or are experiencing, a cancer journey. The Cancer Support Group meets the third Sunday of every month from
Looking ahead to next week…
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NAME OF DAY: The BIC Center Name of the Day is Roberta. If that’s your name, head on down to the BIC Center to pick out a free drink of your choice courtesy of your friends at the BIC Center and W-V-B-I …
BIRTHDAYS Leaha Carey, happy birthday to Leaha, but 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: No delays, but let’s be careful out there.
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On this day in 1129 On January 13, 1129, at the Council of Troyes, Pope Honorius II grants a papal sanction to the military order known as the Knights Templar, declaring it to be an army of God.
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day
SECULAR – Secular describes things that are not spiritual; that is, they relate more to the physical world than the spiritual world. The word also carries the closely related meaning of “not religious.”
//In her autobiography, the actor mentions that her education in parochial school was not so different from that of secular institutions.
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Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Monday…
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Here’s a thought for the day from J.R.R. Tolkien “Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.”
― The Fellowship of the Ring |
On a lighter note… I don’t know why everyone hates lazy people, they didn’t do anything.
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar for this Beaver Island Monday, January 13th, 2025. I’m Greg Doig 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
Scattered snow showers, mainly after 4pm. Patchy blowing snow. Cloudy, with a temperature falling to around 19 by 5pm. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Tonight
Scattered snow showers. Patchy blowing snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Tuesday
A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a high near 23. Northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Tuesday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 26. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph.
Wednesday Night
Snow showers likely, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 33.
Thursday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25.
Friday
Cloudy, with a high near 36.
Friday Night
A chance of snow showers after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 25.
Saturday Night
A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 9.
Sunday
A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 15.
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Community Calendar for Monday, January 13, 2025
