|
From our Langford Family studios on America’s Emerald Isle, this is the WVBI Community Calendar for Groundhog Day, Wednesday, February 2nd, 2022. |
|
First some news … Our COVID-19 update this morning is short and pretty much all good news. First, the health center says they have some extra doses of COVID-19 vaccinations available this afternoon—boosters, too, apparently. Call them at 2275 for details. Otherwise, nothing new from the Health Center. Next report from the state is due this afternoon; we’ll get to see if the downward trends are continuing. Meantime, Traverse Ticker has a COVID-19 update article in their Newsletter today. Short version is that Munson officials think the Omnicron tide is turning, but they still have high COVID-19 occupancy across their system. Their sickest patients are unvaccinated, and they are devoting some resources to those dealing with long COVID. TC area schools have been struggling with staffing to keep all classrooms open but expect things to get better soon. The full text of the Ticker is in our COVID-19 Info center at w-v-b-I dot net. https://wvbi.biccenter.org/traverse-ticker-has-useful-covid-19-update-for-tc Headed downstate today? You might want to rethink that plan if you are headed from eastern half of mid-Michigan south to all of the wrist of the mitten. South of a line from Holland to Saginaw is likely to be tough sledding. Snow has already started and it is expected to continue for the next 36 hours leaving a wide swatch of snow a foot deep or higher. There are school closings for today across the region. Amtrak has already cancelled some train service and service disruptions are expected at airports in the storm area including Detroit Metro, O’Hara and Cleveland. The Michigan D-N-R says that expanding bobcat populations across the state can support an extended hunting season for the elusive felines. Among other things, they propose a nine day extension of the separate trapping and hunting seasons in the northern lower peninsula to 20 days and creating a seasons in southern Michigan. Full details are in a post on the BIA website with a link in today’s script online. https://www.beaverislandassociation.org/2022/02/02/dnr-proposes-bobcat-hunting-and-trapping-changes/ Over at the District Library, some big changes are afoot. Long-time director Patrick McGinnity has announced that he will be leaving the library. He’s not leaving the island though. Instead, he plans to focus his efforts on the Whiskey Point Brewing Company where he is one of the founders and the brewmaster (and where, full disclosure, I am a partner). The Library board has launched a search for his replacement. Meantime, the Library is busy planning for the summer reading program. The theme this year is Ocean of Possibilities. They’re conducting a survey to fine tune the program and its content. There’s a link to that in today’s script online. Survey: https://wvbi.biccenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Oceans-of-possibilities-survey.jpg As for the Groundhog report…we’re still waiting on that. |
|
Now, here’s a look at what’s happening on your island… Here’s your meeting planner for the week: Three meetings for the week and they are all today: Peaine Township Planning Commission meets at 9 at their Township Hall. Airport Commission meets at noon out at the municipal airport. St. James Finance Committee meets at 1:00 at the Governmental Center. And, for now, that’s it. Details are in the calendar entry online. Today, 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 10:00. And, Wednesday evening is the second session of Cindy Ricksgers winter art classes at the BIC Center. Start time is 5:00. Card making is the activity for this time—a great time to make some special Valentine’s Day Cards. If you like, bring snacks and a drink (wine is fine). Or you can order from the Concession Stand at the BIC Center. Time for Art nights will continue through spring on Wednesdays from 5 to 7. More details are available at bic center dot org forward slash art. http://biccenter.org/art. Thursday, Tai-Chi is at 9:30 and Pickleball at 10 here at the BIC Center. And Thursday Afternoon is Games Galore up in the Hangout from 1:00 to 4:00. And you can play Euchre this 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. Friday afternoon, there’s a special movie showing at the BIC Center—it’s Fargo, a perfect flick for this time of year. Showtime is 2:00 p.m. And Friday evening there’s a meet and greet for a new vet providing services on the island. Colleen Turner will be at the BIC Center starting at 5:00 if you’d like to greet her. She’s planning to move to the island and establish a practice and is already providing services here. Refreshments will be served. 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. Also Saturday there are movies at the BIC Center. At 4:00 it’s another live action version of beloved cartoon stories. Cliford The Big Red Dog will grace the big screen at the BIC Center. It’s rated PG. At 7:00, it’s Clint Eastwood’s latest film called Cry Macho. A one-time rodeo star and washed-up horse breeder takes a job to bring a man’s young son home and away from his alcoholic mom. On their journey, the horseman finds redemption through teaching the boy what it means to be a good man. Rated PG-13. Both shows on the BIG screen with the BIG sound in the BIC Center Theater. Concession Stand open for both shows. Trailers are on the BIC Center website at BIC Center dot org and in the Online Community Calendar. Sunday there are services at Holy Cross, the Christian Church, and the Lighthouse fellowship. Times and more details are in the calendar. Next week… 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. |
|
BIRTHDAYS: Desire Duhamel and Lindsey Kenwabikise are celebrating today. Happy Birthday to Lindsey and Desire, 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. |
|
TRAFFIC: None, nada, zip. Still, let’s be careful out there. |
|
ON THIS DAY in 1887 Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania celebrates its first official Groundhog Day. Crowds gather at Gobbler’s Knob to watch their local rodent predict the arrival of spring. German immigrants to the area likely inspired this event, which is similar to historical Candlemas Day traditions. But organizers will later claim that ‘Punxsutawney Phil is the only true weather forecasting groundhog.’ (Bing.com)
|
|
WORD OF THE DAY: obsequious (adjective) [ub-SEE-kwee-us], which means means “marked by or showing a fawning attentiveness”—in other words, “too eager to help or obey someone important.” According to the origin of the word, an obsequious person is more likely to be a follower than a leader. The word comes from Latin sequi, meaning “to follow”; the prefix ob- means “toward.” (Merriam-Webster) |
|
Now, to wrap up for this for Beaver Island Wednesday… |
|
Here’s a thought for this Groundhog Day from the movie of the same name: “It’s just still once a year, isn’t it?” On a lighter note: How many gropundhogs does it take to change a lightbulb? Two. One to change the bulb. The other to hide from the shadow. |
|
That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar for this Beaver Island Wednesday, February 2nd, 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. |
|
### |
|
Weather, here there and everywhere – presented every day with the support of Hogarth’s Pest Control: |
|
Today Cloudy, with a high near 18. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Tonight Mostly cloudy, with a low around 6. Wind chill values as low as -7. Northwest wind around 10 mph. Thursday Partly sunny, with a high near 13. Wind chill values as low as -7. Northeast wind around 10 mph. Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 1. Calm wind. Friday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 15. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Friday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 4. Saturday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 27. Saturday Night A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15. Breezy. Sunday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 25. Sunday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 4. Monday Partly sunny, with a high near 23. Monday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 14. Tuesday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 29. |
|
### |
|
|
