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Michigan lawmakers have reached a tentative deal to accelerate the state’s minimum wage hike while preserving the tipped wage system. The bipartisan plan, approved by the Senate in a 20-12 vote, would raise the standard minimum wage to $12.48 this month, $13.73 by 2026, and $15 by 2027, with future increases tied to inflation. Tipped workers’ base pay would gradually rise to 50% of the minimum wage by 2031. However, the agreement depends on a separate deal on paid sick leave rules before the Feb. 21 deadline. House Speaker Matt Hall is urging Senate Democrats to accept his sick leave compromise to finalize the package. The Michigan DNR is seeking its first hunting and fishing license fee hike in over a decade, citing rising costs and shrinking license sales. The plan would raise fees by $10 to $15 and tie future increases to inflation. But critics argue hunters and anglers shouldn’t bear the burden alone. Some lawmakers, like Rep. Parker Fairbairn, propose using more state tax revenue for conservation. Without action, the DNR warns of cutbacks to vital programs like fish hatcheries and game area management. Joann Fabrics is closing its Petoskey store as part of a nationwide downsizing, shuttering 500 of its 850 locations. Over 30 Michigan stores are affected, including Alpena, Holland, Lansing, and Ann Arbor. The closures are tied to the company’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy, with Michigan among the hardest-hit states. Joann says store performance and long-term strategy guided their decisions. There’s been lots of discussion about the Super Bowl halftime show with folks explaining its meaning, but not much talk about the car in the show. Kendrick Lamar opened the performance atop a 1987 Buick GNX, a rare American muscle car built in Michigan. Only 547 GNXs were made, and the last one was the last vehicle built at GM’s Pontiac plant. The choice of the car was personal: Lamar’s father drove him home from the hospital in a 1987 Buick Regal, the GNX’s parent model. GNX is the title of his most recent album, which includes a track of the same name. A Buick GNX, which stands for Grand National Experimental, cost just under $30,000 back in 1987. Today, the car sells for $170,000. Image from gmauthority.com |
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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 Saturday at 6:00. That’s it on the meeting front. More details are in the calendar entries online. On the fun front today… Friday, Senior and Vets Coffee and Donuts is at the BIC Center from 9:00 to 11:00. Pickleball is 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. At 11:30 there’s a C-O-A Valentines Day Luncheon at the Gregg Fellowship Center. There’ll be chicken piccata, roasted potatoes, carrots and rolls plus a flourless chocolate cake with strawberries …all prepared by Bodega Catering. And, Cynthia and Bob Pryor will be there to provide music. You need to sign up in advance with a call to 231-237-0103. Island Treasures is open noon to four today and tomorrow with a Valentine’s Day Special going on both days: half off all red and pink clothing. Friday evening, there’s a special Valentine’s Day movie at the BIC Center: Moulin Rouge! Shows at 6:00. There’ll be special treats to enjoy with the movie. Also Friday, the Islander basketball teams head off to Escanaba for the Northern Lights League Tournament and their last games of the season. They’ll be back on Saturday. [On the radio, you’ll hear our fantastic Friday evening lineup of shows to kick off the weekend. Right after the news at 6:00 there’s That Thing with Rich Appel, that top-down top forty sound from the 70s that so much fun. He’s followed at 9:00 by Titus Jennings with the Titus Jennings experience and lots of fine music from all genres and then is music and farce comedy and escape with Marilyn Rea Beyer and the Midnight special starting at 11:00.] On Saturday, the Fiero Coding Club is at the Library at 2:00 and it’s Prime Rib Night at the Shamrock. On the BIG screen with the BIG sound at the BIC Center, it’s time for the throwback movies of the month. And our fans have picked a perfect one for the day after valentine’s day. It’s 10 Things I Hate About You. Showtime is 6:00 p.m. If you are a Shakespeare fan, you’ll discover or already know that it’s a modern day take on the Bard’s famous play. Great fun and reviews. It’s rated PG-13. [On the radio, tune in for Country Classics at 5:00 Saturday evening with host Sheri Timsak. At 7:00, Jackson Smith and Steve Girbach are in with Songs from the Trail. Mark Beltaire takes over at 9:00 with Rockin’ the Boat and continues at 10:00 with the Blues Cruise. Cousin Dan wraps up the evening with the Too Good Radio Show starting at 11:00.] Sunday brings folks together for worship, with services at the Christian Church at 10:00 and Mass at Holy Cross at 12:15. And, at 4:00, the Cancer Support Group meets at the Health Center. Highlights for next week include… Monday, there is Cardio Drumming at the BIC Center at 10:00. At 5:00 this evening, there’s Qigong [chi gong] practice lead by Tina Carlton. It’s a traditional, ancient Chinese medicine practice using gentle movement, meditation, and breathing to promote mental, physical, and spiritual health. That’s at the BIC Center, up in the Hang Out. And, in our Dark Skies, the Moon reaches is apogee, it’s farthest point from Earth at 8:00 p.m. this evening when it will be 251,582 miles away. Tuesday, the threads will be yacking and crafting out at Peaine Township Hall starting at 9:30. At the library at 10:00 there’s a Babes and Toddlers Mix-up. Pickleball is on at the BIC Center in the theater at 10:00 and the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program is at 10:30 in the Hangout followed by C-O-A Senior Tai Chi at 11:30. Then at 2:30 it is Story Time at the library. And, at 5:30, the Improv Club meets on the stage in the BIC Center Theater. Wednesday…there is C-O-A Bingo at 1:00 at the BIC Center in Hangout. At 3:00 at the Library, it’s time for the Bobi Book Club and a discussion of this months book: James by Percival Everett. And, Wednesday evening at 5:00, it’s time for Art at the BIC Center. This week it is knit and crochet time with experts on hand to help out with a current project or suggest a new one. Meantime, over at school, Medical First Responder Class sessions continue at 7:00. Thursday, there’s Cardio Drumming at 10:00, Pickleball at 10:00…both at the BIC Center… and Women’s Bible Study at the Christian Church at 10:00. At 11:00 back at the BIC Center, there’s Chair Yoga. At 2:00, the Beaver Island Senior Advisory Committee is holding a Palentines event, and opportunity to share sweet treats and warm beverages with your Island pals. Island Treasures is open noon to 4:00. They’ll be open Friday and Saturday same hours. Thursday evening it’s Burger and a Beer night at the Shamrock. Euchre is on at 7:00 at the Whiskey Point Brewing Company. And at 7:00 over at school, Medical First Responder Class sessions continue at 7:00. |
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NAME OF DAY: The BIC Center Name of the Day is Valentina. If that’s your name, head on down to the BIC Center to pick out a free drink of your choice. BIRTHDAYS: Bill McDonough, Henry Bredan and Cheryl Kern are celebrating today. Happy Birthday to Cheryl, Henry and Bill and, if we missed you on the list, Happy Birthday to you, too, from everyone at WVBI and your Beaver Island Community Center! [And, here’s a way to send special birthday wishes to someone on the island: The B-I-C-S National Honor Society will put up a sign in their yard in exchange for a donation of $10 or more to the Build a Cure for Cancer fund. Contact N-H-S president Alyssa Martin for more details. You can reach her through the front desk at school.] |
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TRAFFIC: None. But the roads are super slick after the snow and glaze of icing yesterday. So, let’s be careful out there. Especially in the school zone. |
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On this day in 1967 a little-known gospel singer from Detroit goes to a New York City recording studio to try to jump-start her career. The song she lays down on Valentine’s Day 1967 will go on to become one of the greatest recordings of all time. Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” hits the top of the charts four months later and turns her into a feminist champion. Also on this Day, according to legend, Bishop Valentine who had been marrying couple’s without the consent of Imperial Rome is beheaded. He will eventually become the patron saint of love.
Image from bing.com |
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is billet-doux (noun) [bill-ee-DOO], which is a love letter. In French, billet doux means “sweet letter.” English writers first fell in love with the word during the 17th century and have been committed to using it as a romantic alternative to “love letter” ever since. |
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Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Valentine’s Day… |
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Here’s a thought for the day from Aretha Franklin: “We all require and want respect, man or woman, black or white. It’s our basic human right.” |
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On a lighter note… Did you hear about the two radios that got married? The reception was amazing. |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar for this Beaver Island Friday, February 14th, 2025. 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 Increasing clouds, with a high near 24. Wind chill values as low as -2. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Tonight Snow. Low around 21. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of around 2 inches. Saturday Snow showers, mainly before 1pm. High near 26. East wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of around 3 inches. Saturday Night A 30 percent chance of snow showers, mainly after 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 15. Northeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Sunday A 50 percent chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a high near 20. North wind around 10 mph. Sunday Night A 30 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 3. Washington’s Birthday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 11. Monday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 2. Tuesday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 14. Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 4. Wednesday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 17. Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 7. Thursday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 19. |
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Photos from webcams at wvbi.net and mackinacbridge.org |
