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The island has a special visitor today. Michigan’s representative of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration—the N-T-I-A for short—is here. He’ll be at a special meeting of the Joint Telecommunications Advisory Committee this morning to talk about grant opportunities for broadband for the island under the N-T-I-A administered BEAD grant program. The meeting is at 10:00 in the Theater at the BIC Center. Billions of dollars are set to be distributed nationwide through BEAD grants, and poorly served places like the island are on the top of the priority to list for grants. So, this is a prime opportunity for the island to wind up with broadband service that is competitive with that on the mainland. The Health Department of Northwest Michigan is in the midst of a series public input sessions. They have an in-person listening session set for tomorrow over at the Charlevoix Public Library starting at 6:00 in the evening. You need to pre-register if you would like to attend. There’s a link in today’s script online that also has information about additional in person and virtual sessions. It was spitting snow last night on the island and pretty cold, but compared to some places on the mainland and a pretty big swath of the U-P, we are getting off easy. Places in the central U-Up had already seen a foot of snow by last evening and may have two feet before the storm is done today. Down near T-C and Cadillac, forecasts are for up to six inches of snow. If you’d some trees to plant on your property, the Wildlife club has some from their delivery. Check with Jacquie LaFreniere to arrange pickup. Voting is done for U-S-A Today’s best Glamping Spot poll. Results are to be posted next Friday. We’ll let you know. |
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Now, here’s a look at what’s happening on your island… Here’s your meeting planner for the week: Peaine Township Board has a special meeting set for 11 today, Monday. Joint Telecommunications Advisory Commission has a meeting set for Tuesday morning at 10:00 at the BIC Center. N-T-I-A representative Ben Fineman will be there to talk about the BEAD grant opportunity coming up for the island, which could help fund a Fiber to the Home project to bring competitive broadband to the island. Also, Tuesday, St. James Township has special meetings planned for Tuesday. The board will meet at 5:00, followed by a special Planning Commission meeting on the updated master plan, and then there’s a regular planning Commission meeting set for 6:00. Peaine Township board meeting that usually happens Tuesday evening is canceled. Wednesday, Peaine Township Planning Commission meets at 9:00 a.m., St. James Finance and Administration Committee meets at 1:00, and the B-I-C-S Committee of the Whole meets at 5:30. That’s it for a busy week of meetings. More details are in the calendar entries online. On the fun front today, Tuesday, Talking Threads will be crafting out at the Peaine Township Hall starting at 9:00. Pickleball is on 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. It’s Open Mic Night at the BIC Center sponsored by the Bodega. To get on the set list, sign-up during the day at the Bodega. There’ll be snacks provided at the show up in the Hangout. You are welcome to bring your own beverage and, if you like dinner. Grab it at the Concession Stand, the Bodega, where it’s Taco Tuesday, or the Shamrock. Wednesday, B-I-C-S A-P English students have their exam. Time for Art is from 5:00 to 7:00 at the BIC Center. This week will be a session on Rock Painting. Summer BINGO kicks off Wednesday evening over at the Gregg Fellowship Center. Doors open at 6:15 for fellowship. Games start at 7:00. And the special at the Bodega on Wednesday is a Coney Dog and fries. Thursday, C-O-A has chair Yoga set at the Peaine Township hall for 9:30. Pickleball is 10:00 to noon in the Theater at the BIC Center. And C-O-A has Bingocize, a health information game based on BINGO out at the Peaine Township hall at 10:30. Women’s Bible Study is on the calendar over at the Christian Church. Resale shop is open from noon to 4. At 1:00, there’s Story Hour for preschoolers at the library. B-I-C-S has a sports awards ceremony set for 5:00 Thursday evening. Meantime, its Italian Day this Thursday at the Bodega and Burger and a Beer night at the Shamrock. Also, Euchre is on tap at Whiskey Point Brewery Thursday evening. Cards hit the table at 7:00. Friday, Pickleball is on from 10:00 to noon in the Theater. And, the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program is on at 10:30 up in the Hangout. Re-sale Shop is open again from noon to 4:00. Games Galore is 1:00 to 4:00 in the Hangout. The Historical Society and the Northern Islander have a reception to celebrate the launch of the paper from the Print Shop. It’s a chance to meet the new team. Alongside that the Chamber has set their Spring After Hours event. After some time at the Print Shop, they’ll head up the street to the Emerald Isle Inn for a look at the changes there. And, don’t forget. Friday is Pizza Night at Dalwhinnies Eat in or take out. Just get your order in before 7:00 p.m. Saturday, The Resale Shop will be open from noon to 4:00. Lego Club is at the library at 1:00. Building fun for all ages. At BIC Center Saturday movies are on at 4:00 and 7:00. Mummies is the matinee at 4:00 and Champions is at 7:00 for the evening show. Both are great shows for the whole family.
Sunday there are services at the Christian Church at 10:00 and mass at Holy Cross at 12:15. Also Sunday Brunch at the Shamrock from 9:00 to 2:00. Looking ahead to next week… Monday. no planned community activities. B-I-C-S AP Calc students have their exams today. They are well prepared and will do well. Afterwards, Monday is Sliders Day at the Bodega while the Shamrock has all-you-can-eat pizza and salad for dinner. |
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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 airport. The island beltway is running smoothly and there are no bridge delays. But, let’s be careful out there. |
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ON THIS DAY in 1952 the jet passenger airliner takes its first commercial flight. After years of testing and development, British airline BOAC welcomes passengers to the jet age as the De Havilland Comet 1 takes off from London for Johannesburg, South Africa. Although the route will make five stops, and take 21 hours and 20 minutes, it’s about 50 percent faster than conventional aircraft. |
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WORD OF THE DAY: Our Merriam-Webster Word of the Day is plausible (adjective) [PLAW-zuh-bul] which means “seemingly fair, reasonable, or valuable but often not so” or “appearing worthy of belief.” Put your hands together for plausible, a word with a sonorous history. Today the word usually means “reasonable” or “believable,” but its origins lie in the sensory realm, rather than that of the mind. In fact, plausible comes to us from the Latin adjective plausibilis, [plaus-see-bee-lease] meaning “worthy of applause,” which in turn derives from the verb plaudere, [plau-der-ay] meaning “to applaud or clap.” Other plaudere words include applaud, plaudit (the earliest meaning of which was “a round of applause”), and explode (from the Latin explodere, meaning “to drive off the stage by clapping”). Will the evolution of plaudere continue? Quite plausibly, and to that we say “Bravo.” |
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Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Tuesday… |
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Here’s a thought for the day: “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” On a lighter note: When do bakers share their secret recipes? Only on a kneed-the-dough basis. |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar for this Beaver Island Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023. 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 Rain and snow showers likely before 3pm, then a slight chance of rain showers. Cloudy, with a high near 45. Breezy, with a northwest wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Little or no snow accumulation expected. Tonight Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. Breezy, with a north wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. Breezy, with a north wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Thursday Partly sunny, with a high near 51. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Thursday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 55. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. Saturday Partly sunny, with a high near 57. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 43. Sunday Partly sunny, with a high near 58. Sunday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Monday A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58. |
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Fire danger level on the island is: Moderate. Out on the Big Drink… |
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Today-Gale Warning NNW wind 20 to 25 kt, with gusts as high as 35 kt. Rain and snow likely before 2pm, then a slight chance of rain. Waves 4 to 5 ft. Wednesday NNW wind 10 to 20 kt, with gusts as high as 25 kt. Partly sunny. Waves 1 to 3 ft. Thursday Variable winds 5 kt or less. Partly sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. |
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Water Temps: No buoys in the water yet this season. |
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Community Calendar for Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023
