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From our Langford Family studios on America’s Emerald Isle, this is the WVBI Community Calendar for Thursday, February 17th, 2022. |
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First some news … On the COVID-19 data front, nothing new as of this morning from the Health Center. They have two tests pending. Their tally now has just one person with a positive test in the last two weeks. Data from the state yesterday looks good overall. There was a typical after-the-weekend uptick in the new case and death numbers, but nothing to suggest that the overall downward trend is reversing. Seven-day averages are now at 2,195 for new cases and 75 for deaths, including deaths reclassified from prior dates. There were 128 total new cases in our region during the two-day reporting period and three deaths. Three of the new cases were in Charlevoix. The deaths were in Benzie, Emmet and Grand Traverse with one each. Hospital utilization numbers continue to trend in the right direction with overall I-C-U bed occupancy essentially normal. COVID-19 shares are still high, but also still on a downward slope overall. No change in the numbers at our local hospitals. In the face of the declining numbers, Governor Whitmer’s health team have now dropped their recommendation that everyone wear masks in many indoor settings. Health Department officials say the state is in a recovery phase now and that they don’t expect a resurgence in infections. Regardless of the reason, the reality was that very few were using masks except in schools where they were mandated. The state had not changed its masking advice since last June. Officials continue to recommend “all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, continue to practice universal masking in high-risk congregate settings including long-term care facilities, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, jails and health care facilities.” B-I-C-S students are getting ready to set their masks aside tomorrow. And, none too soon as far as many of them are concerned. With masks being used nowhere else when school started, it baffled some students as to why they were required in school. Then as omicron descended, the virus spread like wildfire even with the masks. And symptoms were generally mild, if any. The policy adopted by the board says masks can come back if conditions require and they are still highly recommended, but for now the policy says they are needed only if students are working closely together without maintaining social distancing for extended periods. Masking requirements at B-I-C-S were driven by a mandate imposed by our local health department lead by Lisa Peacock. She’s been under fire for that and other policies adopted by the department during the pandemic. There’s been a run of controversy on the board of the department made up of appointed representatives from the four counties covered by the department—with efforts to remove Peacock, board members resigning or threatening to resign—and contentious meetings. The board had a special meeting earlier this week with most of it in closed session, so it isn’t clear what transpired, but it apparently involved settlement of a dispute involving Peacock. Peacock says she has felt threatened by some members of the board. She wasn’t present at the meeting, but board members said after the closed session that they believed things were on the right path and that the dropping of the mask mandate for schools should cool things down. Forecasters have upped the accumulation totals for the storm that’s headed through downstate today—and moved the heaviest impact zones. They say there could be up to nine inches of snow with the biggest piles developing a little bit farther south. Looks like Ann Arbor could get hit the hardest, but Grand Rapids now looks to get just an inch or two, they say. The storm will come with freezing rain and heavy, wet snow. The latest accumulation map is in today’s script online. Looking ahead to summer, some roller coaster fans had been worrying about what might happen to Cedar Point if Cedar Fair, its owner, accepted a buyout offer from SeaWorld. Would America’s Roller coast become a fish tank? But, today worries on that front are down as Cedar Fair has rejected the offer, which industry experts said was way too low. |
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Now, here’s a look at what’s happening on your island… Here’s your meeting planner for the week: The Joint Telecommunications Advisory Committee meets Thursday at 3:30 at the BIC Center today for a discussion with Congressman Debbie Dingell’s staff and will hold their regular monthly meeting at 4:30. Library Board meets at 5:00 at the library. And that’s it. More details are in the calendar entries online. On the fun front today, Thursday, Tai-Chi is at 9:30 and Pickleball at 10 here at the BIC Center. And you can play Euchre Thursday evening over at the Whiskey Point Brewing Company. Cards hit the table at 7:00. Friday, Pickleball is on again—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, Friday evening the BIC Center kicks off its Winter Documentary Film Series with Fish and Fishing as the theme. First show is The Sea Baron, which tells the story of a fisherman’s house in Iceland that’s become a world famous, hole-in-the-wall fish joint. Showing is at 6:00 up in the comfort of the Hangout. Bring your own snacks and drink or get something at the Concession stand. Saturday, the annual Beaver Island Wildlife Club Lake G fishing tournament is on with fishing from 6 am to 5:30 pm. There are Pike and Bluegill prizes for adults and Pike and panfish prizes for kids—first second and third place for all categories. The chamber is sponsoring food from noon to 2. Prizes are at the boat launch at 5:30. It’s a D-N-R free fishing weekend, so no license required. Also Saturday, the Library and Historical Society continue a series of weekly workshops on using the Library Edition of Ancestry dot com. Start time is 1:00 p.m. The workshops will continue on Saturdays through February. Movies are back at the BIC Center Saturday afternoon. The 4:00 show is First Kid with Sinbad and at 7:00 it’s the American President with Michael Douglas and Annette Benning. Both shows on the BIG screen with the BIG sound. Concession Stand open for both. Trailers for those shows and the film series are on the BIC Center website at bic center dot org. Sunday there are services at Holy Cross, the Christian Church, and the Lighthouse fellowship. Times and more details are in the calendar. And mark your calendar (and get your act prepared) for the next open mic night at the Bodega. That’s next Tuesday at 7. Monday, Chair Yoga is on at 10:30 up in the Hangout here at the BIC Center. Tuesday, Tai Chi is on up in the Hangout at 9:30. Pickleball is on at 10:00 in the Theater. And the Arthritis Foundation Exercise program is on at 10:30 in the Hangout. Tuesday evening it’s open mic night at the Harbour Bodega. Signup starts at 6:30. Performances at 7:00. Wednesday, Nothing but Needles is on for crafters at Peaine Township Hall. That 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. Activity for this week is [TO COME]. |
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BIRTHDAYS: Dorothy Willis and Bob Dooley are celebrating today. Happy Birthday to Dorothy and Bob, and, if we missed you on the 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, nada, zip. Still, let’s be careful out there. |
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ON THIS DAY in 1979 China invades Vietnam. After Vietnam topples the Chinese-backed Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia, China launches the Third Indochina War. Tensions between China and the Soviet Union underlie the invasion. Also on this day in 1966, taking a turn from sunshine-and-sand pop tunes, The Beach Boys begin recording what is arguably their greatest and most blissfully complex song. Good Vibrations goes on to become one of their biggest hits. (Bing.com)
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WORD OF THE DAY: echelon (noun) [ESH-uh-lahn], which refers to a level in an organization or to a group of individuals at a particular level in an organization. Echelon comes from scala, a Latin word meaning “ladder” that is also the source of French eschelon, meaning “rung of a ladder.” Over time, the French word came to mean “step,” “grade,” or “level.” English borrowed the word and upped its meaning to “a level or category within an organization or group of people.” (Merriam-Webster) |
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Now, to wrap up for this for Beaver Island Thursday… |
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Here’s a thought for the day from Nikola Tesla: “If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and…vibration.” On a lighter note: What did the panther say at the Euchre game? I’d be lying if I said I was a cheetah. |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar for this Beaver Island Thursday, February 17th, 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 A 50 percent chance of snow showers, mainly after 4pm. Cloudy, with a high near 20. North wind 10 to 15 mph. Tonight A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around -2. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Friday Snow showers likely after 1pm. The snow could be heavy at times. Increasing clouds, with a high near 24. Wind chill values as low as -3. Breezy, with a light and variable wind becoming south 20 to 25 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of around 3 inches. Friday Night Snow showers likely before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 5. Wind chill values as low as -11. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph becoming west after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of around 2 inches. Saturday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 20. Blustery, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Saturday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 10. Sunday A chance of snow showers before 11am, then a chance of rain showers between 11am and 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 38. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Sunday Night Cloudy, with a low around 8. Washington’s Birthday A chance of snow showers after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 16. Monday Night A chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a low around 3. Tuesday A chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a high near 15. Tuesday Night A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 3. Wednesday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 14. |
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Community Calendar for Thursday, February 17th, 2022
