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With the Emerald Isle now successfully in service, you might be wondering about the good old Beaver Islander. The Boat Company says work is proceeding everyday on repairs to her hull, which is the biggest task. Other work is also underway at the shipyard up in Escanaba. No word yet on when she will be home, but BIBCO C-E-O Time McQueer says she’ll be ready for years of service when she is back. Photos from BIBCO Facebook post The Michigan Climate Action Network is joining the fight against the proposed tunnel under the straits for Line five. The Michigan Public Service Commission approved Enbridge’s proposal to build the line last December. That approval has already been appealed by local tribes and environmental groups. When the M-P-S-C approved the tunnel, its chair Dan Scripps said it would be the best way to avoid a catastrophic oil spill in the straits. The Climate Action Network says its appeals with be based on the Michigan Environmental Protection Act and concerns about the use of fossil fuels on climate issues. Charlevoix’s prosecuting attorney has applied for a grant to create comic-book style books designed to explain the legal process to young sexual abuse victims. The D-O-J is offering the grants for the project and the Charlevoix County Board has approved submitting the application. The idea is to present sensitive topics about the process in a way that resonates with kids. If the application is successful, 10-thousand dollars will be available for the project. Down in Lansing, it looks like legislation proposed to add regulations for short-term rentals and generate fee support for communities where they are located won’t make it into law before the 2024 summer season. Sponsors of the bill say more negotiations are needed before they will have support to get the proposal through the committee process and on to the House floor. The current proposal includes a six percent tax along with a registration fee as well as insurance and safety requirements. A reminder about changed hours for the bank. They’ll be open today from 10:00 to 12:15. Regular hours are back tomorrow. That’s from 9:00 to 1:00. If you are a hummingbird fan, it might be time to put out your feeders. M-Live says reports of sightings of Michigan’s ruby-throated hummingbirds returning from their central American wintering grounds are on a steady rise. You can report hummingbird sightings as part of the Beaver Island Birding trail project by heading to beaver island birding trail dot org and using their E-Bird link. Or comment on their Facebook page. C-O-A is out of meal vouchers until some arrive from the mainland. Check with them before making a trip to pick up your May supply. Finally in our news, a few reminders: Next Tuesday is election day with just one thing on the ballot: a millage renewal for special education in the Char-EM I-S-D. It renews the existing levy that expired in 2023. Polls will be open from 7:00 in the morning until 8:00 p.m. If you want to vote on something today, how about voting for the Beaver Island Retreat as the top glamping spot in U-S-A Today’s poll. You can vote once a day on that. And if you are job hunting, there are lots of job openings on the Island. You’ll find links and more info for these reminders in today’s script online. |
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The Beaver Island Retreat, the island’s glamping experience, is once again in the running to be named the top glamping spot in the country. At last check they were ranked number two in the U-S-A Today polling. You can help put them on top…and help the island get recognition, too…with a vote for them. There’s a link in today’s script online. Lots of job openings on the Island as we head towards our busy season. There’s a complete run down of what we know about in today’s script online. The library is looking for a Children’s Librarian to organize programs for the kids and help maintain the collection at the library. 20 hours per week. Applications are due May 3rd at 5 p.m. The Island’s Irish Heritage Group, the folks who organize the annual Irish Feile, want to hire an administrative assistant and bookkeeper. It’s a part time position that will be 10 to 15 hours per week year around. There’s information about qualifications and details on how to apply in today’s script and in the calendar entry online. The application deadline is May 6th. To view the full Job Description and Request for Proposal (RFP) document, follow the link at https://www.irishfeile.com/job-openings/. B-I-C-S is looking for a soccer coach for the 2024 season. The job runs from August 12th to October 12th and get you a 24-hundred dollar stipend. Applications can be dropped by school or emailed to Kerry Smith. There’s more info on how to apply in today’s script online. Send a cover letter expressing your interest to Kerry Smith by email kerrys@beaverisland.k12.mi.us or drop off in school office by 3:30 pm on May 8th, 2024. St. James Township is looking for seasonal marina attendants for the upcoming season. Pay is 16 to 19 dollars an hour full time from mid-June through August. Head to the St. James Township website for application info or grab the link in today’s script online. Applicants should send a completed application and letter of interest to Harbormaster Marlene Wiser at harbormaster.stjamestwp.bi@gmail.com or US Mail to: PO BOX 42, Beaver Island, MI 49782. |
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Now, here’s a look at events happening on your Emerald Isle… First your meeting planner for the week… A-A meets tonight and Saturday at 6:00. That’s it for the week. Locations and more details are in the calendar entries online. On the fun front today, Thursday paddles out with Pickleball. That’s from 10:00 to noon in the Theater at the BIC Center. Women’s Bible Study is also at 10:00 over at the Christian Church. Tai Chi is in the Hangout at the BIC Center at 11:00. Resale Shop is open noon to 4:00. And Thursday is Burger and a Beer night at the Shamrock at 5 p.m. Down the street at the Wild Strawberry Cafe it’s Euchre Night. Cards hit the table at 6:00. Friday, Senior and Vets Coffee and Donuts is from 9:00 to 11:00 at the BIC Center. At 10:00, there’s Pickleball in the theater at the BIC Center while upstairs at 10:30 there’s the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program. Resale Shop is open noon to 4:00. Saturday, Resale Shop is open again from noon to 4:00 there’s Lego Club at the library at 1:00. Also at 1:00, the northern Islander celebrates its first anniversary of publication by the Historical Society with a reception at the Print Shop Museum. Light refreshments and beverages will be served. Then, the BIC Center and B-I-C-S robotics team B-I-robot have a May the Fourth be with you Star Wars watch party starting at 2:00. All three films of the original trilogy on the BIG screen with the BIG sound in the BIC Center with a Cantina Bar experience out front and costume contest. A New Hope screens at 2:00 followed by a B-I-robot demo at 4:30. You’ll see this year’s competition robot and racing mini robots. At 5:00, the Empire Strikes Back, then costume contest winners will be announced at 7:30. At 8:00, it’s The Return of the Jedi. All of the shows are rated PG. Sunday, there are services at the Christian Church at 10:00 a.m. and mass at Holy Cross Church at 12:15 p.m. Looking ahead to next week… Monday, C-O-A has Cardio Drumming. Music and exercise in the Hangout at the BIC Center at 10:00. It’s all you can eat pizza and salad night at the Shamrock starting at 5:00 and there is Pickleball in the theater at the BIC Center from 5:30 to 7:00. Tuesday, B-I-C-S has M-Step exams for 8th and 11th grade today. Talking Threads is at 9:00 a.m. Crafting and yacking at the Peaine Township Hall. C-O-A Chair Yoga is at the BIC Center in the Hangout at 10:00. Meantime, in the Theater, Pickleball is on from 10:00 to noon. At 10:30 it’s the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program in the Hangout. Wednesday, at the BIC Center, C-O-A has Cardio Drumming at 10:00 in the theater and Bingo at 1:00 in the Hangout. At 5:00, it’s Time for Art at the BIC Center. This week it’s Botanical Tile Making in a class lead by Larrissa McGinnity and Mark Engelsman. It’s all filled up, though, with only standby signup available. Do that at the BIC Center Front Desk. Also on Wednesday evening, there’s an Adult Faith Formation class up in the Hangout. That starts at 7:00. |
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NAME OF DAY: Today’s BIC Center name of the day is Hugo. If that’s your name, head on down to the BIC Center today for a free drink of your choice. BIRTHDAYS: None on our list today, 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 inbound or outbound to the airports. Island beltway is running smoothly. No bridge delays. But, let’s be careful out there. |
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On this day in 1983, Microsoft announces the two-button Microsoft Mouse, which it introduces to go along with its new Microsoft Word processor. Microsoft built about 100,000 of these fairly primitive units for use with IBM and IBM-compatible personal computers but sold only 5,000 before finding success in a 1985 version that featured, among other improvements, near-silent operation on all surfaces. Also on this date in 1939, First baseman Lou Gehrig benches himself following a record-smashing 2,130 consecutive games played with his baseball team, the New York Yankees. Gehrig will soon be diagnosed with a fatal case of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or what will come to be known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. |
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is forfend (verb) [for-FEND]. Forfend is used in contexts relating to some kind of real or pretended danger or other unpleasantness. It is an unusual word in that its most commonly used sense is considered archaic, meaning it survives in English chiefly in specialized uses. When forfend was first used in the 14th century, it meant “to forbid.” It still does but only in phrases, like “heaven forfend” or “God forfend,” that have an exaggeratedly old-timey ring to them. (The use is also typically humorous and/or ironic.) Put another way, substituting forfend for forbid in any other context would sound strange, as in “students are forfended from using cell phones in the classroom.” Other senses of forfend, including “to protect or preserve” and “to ward off or prevent,” are current, though much less common. The fend part of the word comes from the same Latin source as defend. |
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Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Thursday… |
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Here’s a thought for the day from Lou Gehrig: “You don t get the breaks unless you play with the team instead of against it.” On a lighter note: At first I didn’t understand how a computer mouse worked. But then it just clicked. |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar for this Beaver Island Thursday, May 2nd, 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. |
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Today A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 5pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 53. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east in the afternoon. Tonight Showers and thunderstorms likely before 11pm, then showers likely between 11pm and 2am, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2am. Steady temperature around 50. East wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Friday Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 8am, then showers likely. High near 57. Southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Friday Night A 30 percent chance of showers before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. South wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight. Saturday Partly sunny, with a high near 59. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Saturday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 57. Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 39. Monday Sunny, with a high near 60. Monday Night A chance of showers after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 43. Tuesday Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61. Tuesday Night Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Wednesday A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 60. |
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Fire danger level on the island set at Moderate… |
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Out on the big drink… |
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Today N wind 5 to 10 kt becoming ENE in the morning. A chance of showers, mainly after 4pm. Waves 1 ft or less. Friday S wind around 10 kt becoming WSW in the afternoon. Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 10am, then a slight chance of showers between 10am and 1pm. Patchy fog before 9am. Waves around 1 ft. Saturday NNE wind 5 to 10 kt. Mostly sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. |
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Community Calendar for Thursday, May 2nd, 2024
