News Update

Community Calendar for Wednesday, July 3rd, 2024

In Lansing, a bill on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s desk could stop homeowners associations from banning rooftop solar panels and other energy-saving equipment. The Homeowners’ Energy Policy Act, or House Bill 5028, passed the Democratic-led Legislature on Thursday. In Michigan, about 1.4 million residents live in H-O-As, where rules sometimes block energy-efficient improvements like solar panels, reflective roofing, and electric vehicle charging stations. If Whitmer signs the bill, these restrictions would become illegal.

 

Across, Bay Harbor, the shoreline development between Charlevoix and Petoskey is getting ready to celebrate its 30th anniversary. It’s beginning was heralded by the felling of a smokestack at the Penn-Dixie cement plant that used to be on the site.  That happened on July 12th in 1994. The initial development included the harbor and single-family home sites. It grew to include the village at Bay Harbor, a hotel and condos plus development on the other side of U-S 31 and more recently the Great Center for the Performing Arts theater complex.

Photo of Penn-Dixxie plant  from Greenwood Cemetery via Petoskey News-Review

Bay Harbor Lake Marina slip, dock, mooring reservations - Dockwa

Photo from dackwa.com

A new report says Michigan’s performance in responding to 9-8-8 calls…which is the state’s mental health help line…is strong. But it also highlights areas for improvement in financing and accountability. Chrystal Blair has details…

The report from mental health advocacy group Inseparable says Michigan has a 90-percent call answer rate for the crisis lifeline. Krista Hausermann with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says one of the reasons for this is the earlier implementation of the Michigan Access Crisis Line, or “MICAL” in 2018, which now handles 9-8-8 calls. She commends state lawmakers for funding the system and says additional policies are in the works – including insurance coverage, one of Inseparable’s policy goals.

 

:15  “Michigan is working with Blue Cross/Blue Shield as a partner to set up a crisis system. Blue Cross/Blue Shield in Michigan offers a crisis benefit – and we are looking to align our services, state-funded benefits.”

Another policy goal for Inseparable is system coordination, an area where Hausermann says Michigan excels, with a platform that allows providers to see the crisis services available in caller’s local region. The report suggests a 98-cent surcharge on these calls could generate almost 10-million dollars annually in the state’s funding.

The report also focuses on several key goals, including getting anyone in a mental health crisis paired with the right services at the right time – and that law enforcement involvement be the exception, not the rule. Angela Kimball with Inseparable says the first step for all states to achieve these goals, is financing.

 

:12  “There has to be diversified financing. There is not any single source of funding that is going to cover all of the cost of developing a system like this.”

She says the group advocates for treating mental health crises as a healthcare emergency, treated and covered the same as a physical health crisis

With the fourth of July coming tomorrow, lots of folks have been asking about rules for fireworks on the Island. Consumer grade fireworks are permitted on your private property between 11:00 in the morning and 11:45 at night today, tomorrow and Friday. But, they cannot be brought to the island on the ferry or by the airlines, so you need to bring them on your own boat or plane while complying with the rules that apply to the operation of those vehicles. The island’s firework show will be the evening of the fourth with good viewing anywhere along paradise Bay.

Now, here’s a look at events happening on your Emerald Isle…

 

First your meeting planner…

Peaine Township Planning Commission meets Wednesday at 9:00. AA meets Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 6:00. That’s it for the week. Locations and details are in the calendar entries online.

 

J-TAC has a special make-up meeting Thursday at 4:30. A-A meets Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 6:00. And that’s it for the week. Locations and more details are in the calendar entries online.

 

On the fun front today, Wednesday, Restorative Summer Yoga is at 9:30 at the BIC Center. There’s Story Time at the library at 10:00. At noon at the Print Shop its Picnic on the Patio time with a presentation on Island history alongside whatever lunch you bring. At 4:00, the Whiskey Point Lighthouse will open for tours until 7:00. Wednesday evening it’s time for BINGO at the Gregg Fellowship Center. Doors open at 6:15 for fellowship. Games start at 7:00. Then, at 8:00, the Boodlers will be playing at the Beachcomber.

 

Thursday is Independence Day with lots going on. There’s the original island farmers market at Paradise Bay Coffee Shop starting at 9:00. Resale Shop is open noon to 4:00. Pickleball is outside 10:00 to noon on the township courts. Parade is at 1:00.  If you want to be in it, line up by 12:30. After the parade, you can hear Danny & Friends play at the Beachcomber at 4:00. And, the fireworks are on the 4th this year. They’ll start around 10:00 after the last glimpse of sun is gone.

 

Friday, the EMS team has a Pancake Breakfast at 8:00.  Freewill donation for that. Senior and Vets Coffee and Donuts is from 8:30 to 10:30 at the BIC Center. Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program is at 9:00 in the Hang Out and Summer Flow Yoga is at 9:30 in the Theater. Resale shop open noon to 4:00. At 7:30 Friday evening the BIC Center stage comes alive Trixy Tang.  It’s and 80’s dance party with all your favorites from that era. Tickets are at tickets dot bic center dot org. You can also hear Paul Lamb and friends at the Beachcomber at 9:00.

 

Saturday, there’s Pickleball outdoors on the Peaine Township courts from 10:00 to noon. Also, at 10:00, there’s an Artisan Market out at Whiskey Point. Art, crafts, baked goods, plants, produce and more including plants from the Health Center Wellness Garden team. Whiskey Point Lighthouse will be open for tours from 10:00 to noon. Resale open noon to 4:00. At 1:00, the Fiero coding club is on at the library.  Saturday Night is Prime Rib Night at the Shamrock.

 

Sunday, there are services at the Episcopal Mission at 9:00 and at the Christian Church at 10:00, and mass at Holy Cross Church at 12:15 p.m. And, the Whiskey Point Light is open from 10:00 to noon.

 

Looking ahead to next week…

 

On Monday, Summer Flow Yoga is on at the BIC Center at 9:30 followed by Therapeutic Yoga at 1100. At noon, head out to the Marine Museum for a presentation at noon as part of Marine Museum Mondays. Feel free to bring a lunch or snack. Monday Night at the Movies is back with Furiosa:  A Mad Max Saga.  It’s the origin story of Mad Max.  There’ll be wild hot rods, racing and lots of action.  And stuff blowing up.  A great summer escape on the BIC Center’s BIG screen with the BIG sound.

 

Tuesday, at 9:00 it’s the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program in the Hangout. Pickleball is on from 10:00 to noon now outdoors on the Peaine Township Park courts. Babes and Toddlers Mix-up is at the library at 10:00.  The library is celebrating World Watercolor Month on Tuesday, too, with a special painting opportunity. Paper and paint provided and island artist Lois Stipp will be on hand with tips and help. Then, at noon, Lois will be at her gallery to host a plein air water color event, taking the painting outside.  Tuesday evening, Searching for Eden will be on stage at the BIC Center.  It’s the story of the first encounter of the sexes in the garden and then a look at them in modern times at the resort known simply as “E.”  It’s a laugh out loud comedy read-through performed by pro actors directed by the Island’s Peter Amster. Tickets are at tickets dot bic center dot org.

NAME OF DAY: Today’s BIC Center Name of the Day is Boston. If that’s your name, come on down to the BIC Center to claim a free drink of your choice.

 

BIRTHDAYS: Brad McDonough, Drew McDonough, K.K. Antkoviak and Sydney Butler are celebrating today. Happy Birthday to Sydney, K-K, Drew and Brad. 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: No delays inbound or outbound to the airports. Island beltway is running smoothly. No bridge delays. But, let’s be careful out there.

On this day in 1886 in Mannheim, Germany, inventor Karl Benz presents a three-wheeled vehicle, the Benz Patent Motorwagen. It is the first automobile built to be propelled by an internal combustion engine. Benz will go on to help co-found the Mercedes-Benz car company.

On this day image

Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is insuperable (adjective) [in-SOO-puh-ruh-bul], which means something impossible to gain control of, solve, or overcome. Insuperable is a super word: that is, it belongs to a family of English terms that come from the Latin word super, meaning “over.” It first appeared in print in the 14th century, and as a close synonym of insurmountable. It still essentially means what it did then. Insuperable comes directly from the Latin word insuperabilis, which was formed by combining the negative prefix in- with the verb superare (which comes from super and means “to surmount, overcome, or excel”) and the adjective abilis (meaning “able”). Insuperable can describe physical barriers that cannot be scaled (such as walls or mountains) as well as more figurative obstacles.

Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Tuesday…nothing insuperable involved because we are Islanders…

Here’s a thought for the day from U-S auto pioneer Henry Ford: “The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.”

On a lighter note: Did you hear about the guy who drove his car into a rock on purpose? He wanted to see how a Mercedes Benz.

That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar for this Beaver Island Wednesday, July 3rd, 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

Showers likely before 8am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 74. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Tonight

A slight chance of showers between 11pm and 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Independence Day

Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Northwest wind around 5 mph.

Thursday Night

A 20 percent chance of showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.

Friday

Showers likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 11am. High near 73. East wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Friday Night

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8pm. Low around 58. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Saturday

Partly sunny, with a high near 71.

Saturday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 59.

Sunday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 75.

Sunday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.

Monday

A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 76.

Monday Night

A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60.

Tuesday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.

Fire danger level on the island set at LOW…

Water temps: No buoys reporting.

Lake Forecast: Out on the big drink…

Today

Southwest winds 10 to 20 kt increasing to 15 to 25 kt. Slight chance of showers this morning. Waves 3 to 5 ft subsiding to 2 to 4 ft.

Thursday

West winds 5 to 10 kt backing to southeast. Waves 1 to 2 ft.

Friday

East winds 10 to 20 kt. Showers likely in the morning, then showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Waves 1 to 3 ft.