|
Down in Lansing, a new bill under consideration would have most students banned from using smartphones during the school day. The proposal would require all public schools in the state to implement restrictions, with different rules for elementary, middle, and high school students. Bill sponsor Rep. Mark Tisdel says the goal is to improve mental health, reduce behavioral issues, and boost learning. The bill would fully ban smartphones for elementary students and limit usage for older students outside class hours. On the island, a new rule at school this year bans mobile phone use at all times in class with certain limited exceptions. The Boyne City Commission has approved the first phase of a major marina improvement project, focusing on replacing Dock D, a key floating dock at the marina. The $683,000 contract will fund the construction of a new dock with improved utilities, like upgraded water and electrical systems. City Manager Mike Cain says this is a crucial step, as the aging dock has outlived its lifespan. However, the next phase, including land-based upgrades, remains uncertain due to higher-than-expected costs. The city is awaiting grant funding decisions before proceeding, with construction set to begin this winter for completion by 2025. Island night sky fans are in for a treat tomorrow night with a supermoon and partial lunar eclipse lighting up the night sky. A supermoon occurs when the moon is closest to Earth, making it appear larger and brighter. This one will have a reddish hue due to the partial lunar eclipse, when Earth’s shadow covers part of the moon. The eclipse will peak around 10:44 p.m. The special event comes just ahead of the dedication of the Island’s International Dark Sky Sanctuary on September 20. That event will be at the BIC Center starting at 7:00. There is no charge to attend but registration is required, to help plan with food for the event. Sign up at tickets dot bic center dot org. Photo from Shutterstcok via BridgeMi.com |
|
Now, here’s a look at events happening on your Emerald Isle… First your meeting planner… A-A meets Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, same time. B-I-A Board meets Tuesday at 4:00. Waste Management Committee meets Tuesday at 1:30. Library Board and J-TAC meet Thursday at 4:30. Locations and details for meetings are in the calendar entries online. On the fun front today, On Monday Summer Flow Yoga is on at the BIC Center at 9:30 followed by Therapeutic Yoga at 11:00. Those are the last summer Yoga sessions. Meantime, the Islande soccer and volleyball teams are headed up to Grand Marais today for daytime matches against their Lake Superior south shore rivals. Tuesday, at 9:00 it’s the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program in the Hangout. Pickleball is on from 9:00 to noon outdoors on the Peaine Township Park courts. There’s a babes and toddlers mix-up at the library at 10:00 and then at 2:30 it is Story Time. BICS Soccer squad heads across to play Boyne Concord. Tuesday evening at 6:00 it is time to get quizzical at the BIC Center. It’s the September edition of the Beaver Island Trivia game. Sign up your group at tickets dot bic center dot org. Highlights for the rest of the week include… Wednesday, folks will gather at the Health Center to care for the Wellness Garden. At 3:00 at the library, the book club will discuss The Best Part of Us by Sally Cole-Misch. Also at 3:00 over at the Peaine Township Park it’s time for a Bocce Ball roll. There’s BINGO at the Greg Fellowship Center. Games start at 7:00 with the doors open for fellowship at 6:15. On the radio Wednesday, there’s the Storyteller’s Night Sky with a special edition this week celebrating the dedication of the Island’s Dark Sky Sanctuary. [Listen for that after the news at 3 and 6 pm or catch the podcast at W-V-B-I dot net.][And Wednesday evenings are countdown time on the radio with the Top Ten Plus Five at 7:00, the Retro Album Chart Show at 8:00 and the Cool Jazz Countdown at 10:00 this evening.] Thursday, at 9:00, Pickleball is outdoors on the Peaine Township Courts. Women’s Bible Study is at the Christian Church at 10:00. It’s Burger and a beer night at the Shamrock. And Euchre night spins up at Whiskey Point Brewery. Cards hot the table at 7:00. Friday, the day kicks off with Senior and Vets Coffee and Donuts at the BIC Center at 8:30. The Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program is on at 9:00 in the Hangout. On Saturday, there’s Pickleball outdoors at 9:00. Saturday movies are back at the BIC Center. The 4:00 show is Despicable Me 4, Gru is back with the girls, the minnions and baby gru. It’s rated PG. At 7:00, it’s Twisters. A rave review winning wild ride with storm chasers. It’s rated PG-13. On Sunday, there are services at the Episcopal Mission at 9:00 and at the Christian Church at 10:00. Whiskey Point Light open for tours from 10:00 to noon. Mass at Holy Cross is at 12:15. On or Dark Sky calendar, lots happening this week. On top of the list is the dedication of the Island’s new Dark Sky Sanctuary. That’s Friday at 7:00 at the BIC Center. There’ll be special presentations, food from Bodega Catering and some dark sky viewing afterwards, weather permitting. But, ahead of that the Moon stars this week as it appears near Saturn tonight, is a full supermoon with a partial eclipse on Tuesday evening and reaches its perigee on Wednesday. On Friday night a deep dark sky event as Neptune reaches opposition. There’s more info on all of this at dark sky island dot org. Oh…and don’t forget to sign up for the Sanctuary Dedication on Friday. Do that at tickets dot bic center dot org. |
|
NAME OF DAY: Today’s BIC Center Name of the Day is Keith. If that’s your name come on into the BIC Center today to claim a free drink of your choice courtesy of your friends at the Beaver Island Community Center and W-V-B-I. BIRTHDAYS: Emily Burton and Nancy Tritsch are celebrating today. Happy birthday to Nancy and Emily 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. |
|
TRAFFIC: None, nada, zip for the most part. We are back to off-season traffic patterns. But, the kids are back in school. So, let’s be careful out there…especially in the school zone. |
|
On this day in 1620, a ship sets sail for the New world. With just over a hundred passengers—some of them religious separatists and some fortune seekers—the Mayflower begins its voyage from England to the ‘new Promised Land.’ In November, it will anchor near Plymouth Rock as cold weather sets in. Even with aid from the local Wampanoag people, only about half the pilgrims will survive the harsh first winter.
Illustration from Library of Congress |
|
Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is nebula (noun) [NEB-yuh-luh]. A nebula is a large cloud of interstellar gas or dust. In nontechnical use, the word nebula also refers to a galaxy other than the Milky Way. The history of nebula belongs not to the mists of time but to the mists of Latin: in that language nebula means “mist” or “cloud.” In its earliest English uses in the 1600s, nebula was chiefly a medical term that could refer either to a cloudy formation in urine or to a cloudy speck or film on the eye. Nebula was first applied to great interstellar clouds of gas and dust in the early 1700s. The adjective nebulous comes from the same Latin root as nebula, and it is considerably older, being first used as a synonym of cloudy or foggy as early as the 1300s. Like nebula, this adjective was not used in an astronomical sense until centuries later. |
|
Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Monday… |
|
Here’s a thought from Swiss linguist and philosopher Ferdinand de Saussure: “Without language, thought is a vague, uncharted nebula.” On a lighter note: Did you hear about the astrophysicist that upset the Godfather? He woke up with a horsehead nebula in his bed. |
|
That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar for this Beaver Island Monday, September 16th, 2024. 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. |
|
### |
|
Today Patchy fog between 8am and 11am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 81. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 57. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 79. South wind around 5 mph. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 57. East wind around 5 mph becoming south after midnight. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 78. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming east in the afternoon. Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 57. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 78. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 58. Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. Saturday Partly sunny, with a high near 78. Saturday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. Sunday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. |
|
Fire danger level on the island set at High… |
|
Lake Forecast: Out on the big drink… |
|
Today S wind 5 to 10 kt becoming WSW in the afternoon. Sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. Tuesday S wind 5 to 10 kt becoming NNW in the afternoon. Sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. Wednesday Variable winds 5 kt or less. Sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. |
|
Water temps: 67 in Little Traverse Bay. 68 at the mid-lake buoy southwest of Gull Island. 65 in the Straits.
Photo from Midlake Buoy operated by National Buoy Center |
|
|
