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Congressman Jack Bergman says diversity, equity, and inclusion—or DEI—initiatives are “dead on arrival,” pointing to a Trump executive order cutting federal DEI programs. The Traverse Ticker reports that while some institutions, like NMC’s Great Lakes Maritime Academy, had to remove DEI references due to ties with the U.S. Navy, other local organizations remain committed to D-E-I. NMC President Nick Nissley says students are feeling “uncertainty and division” but emphasizes the college won’t cut D-E-I programs beyond legal requirements. Traverse City schools, tourism, and business groups also continue D-E-I efforts, including cultural programming and accessibility initiatives. The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation recently raised $175,000 for D-E-I grants, with CEO Dave Mengebier saying such programs benefit the entire community. He calls D-E-I a “rising tide that lifts all boats,” ensuring fair access to resources for historically underserved groups. Critics say that such programs, when aimed at equity in outcomes, result in discrimination, which is they very thing they propose to end. The Harbor Springs Planning Commission is back to work updating the city’s zoning code after gathering community feedback. The commission plans a full review of the repealed code. Meetings are scheduled bi-weekly through April. Some proposed changes include shoreline protection and stricter architectural standards. While some council members want to extend discussions for seasonal residents, others are pushing for a steady pace. Once finalized, the plan will go to the city council for approval. Interlochen Public Radio is reporting about a new project is underway to better measure ice thickness on the Great Lakes. Led by the nonprofit Great Lakes Observing System, or GLOS, the effort enlists ice fishers to report ice conditions—offering up to $100 in stipends. Current satellite data shows where ice is but not how thick it is—key info for safety, shipping, and forecasting. The project, supported by federal funding, aims to fill that gap using community reports. |
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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 at the Christian Church tonight and Saturday at 6:00. That’s it on the meeting front. 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. Islander basketball teams head off on Friday to take on Maplewood Baptist with away games Friday aevening and Saturday morning. [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.] Highlights for the rest of the week include… On Saturday, the Fiero Coding Club is at the Library at 2:00 and it’s Prime Rib Night at the Shamrock. There’s a double feature for movies on Saturday with two read watch discuss presentations being made in collaboration with the library. Read, the book, see the movie and stick around after to discuss and you’ll be entered to win a prize. The books and shows are We Bought a Zoo and It Ends With Us. We bought a Zoo, rated PG, plays at 3:00 and It Ends with Us is at 6:00. 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. Also, Sunday, there are lots of Super Bowl watching opportunities. The Shamrock, Elks and Wild Starwberry Café all have activities planned for you to enjoy the Big Game with friends. Food specials at the Sham, a Chuili Cook-off at the Wild Strawberry starting at 4:00, and a crock pot cook-off at the Elks. And the C-O-A has a drawing for prizes that will be awarded on Monday. Just comment on their Facebook post on Beaver Island This and That or WVBI’s feed. Looking ahead to next week… 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. 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 6:00, it’s Time to Get Quizzical. It’s the Beaver Island trivia game. Sign your team up at tickets dot bic center dot org. On the fun front today…Wednesday…there is C-O-A Bingo at 1:00 at the BIC Center in Hangout. And, Wednesday evening at 5:00, it’s time for Art at the BIC Center. From 5:00 – 5:30 PM we’ll have Specialty Mocktail Making with Marlaina Cole. Then from 5:30 – 7:00 PM Lois Stipp will contribute her wealth of knowledge (and a good hoard of scrap-booking supplies) to lead participants through creating their own unique cards. Plus, there will be Light Bites and Sweet Treats will be provided. 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. 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 Milo. If that’s your name, head on down to the BIC Center to pick out a free drink of your choice. BIRTHDAYS: Laura Oliver, Parker Hogarth and Yarick Duffing are celebrating today. Happy Birthday to Laura, Yarick and Parker 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 signs….lots of signs 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: No delays, but the roads are slick, so let’s be careful out there. Especially in the school zone. |
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On this day in 1964 British rock n’ rollers The Beatles land at New York’s Kennedy Airport, where fans welcome the quartet with a high-pitched hysteria that will become a hallmark of the ‘British Invasion.’ Photo from bing.com |
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is Malapropism (noun) [MAL-uh-prah-piz-um], which is an amusing error that occurs when a person mistakenly uses a word that sounds like another word but that has a very different meaning. Mrs. Malaprop, a character in Richard Sheridan’s 1775 play The Rivals, was known for her verbal blunders. “He is the very pine-apple of politeness,” she exclaimed, complimenting a courteous young man. Thinking of the geography of contiguous countries, she spoke of the “geometry” of “contagious countries,” and she hoped that her daughter might “reprehend” the true meaning of what she was saying. She regretted that her “affluence” over her niece was small. The word malapropism comes from this blundering character’s name, which Sheridan took from the French term mal à propos, meaning “inappropriate.” |
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Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Friday… |
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Here’s a thought for the day from Ed Sullivan, who had The Beatles on his show days after their New York arrival: “If you do a good job for others, you heal yourself at the same time.” |
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On a lighter note… The Beatles were writing “hey Jude” and Paul asked if anyone had ideas for and ending. Everyone said “Nah”. |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar for this Beaver Island Friday, February 7th, 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 Mostly cloudy, with a high near 21. Wind chill values as low as -2. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Tonight Mostly cloudy, with a steady temperature around 21. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Saturday A 50 percent chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a high near 22. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Saturday Night A 40 percent chance of snow showers before 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 15. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph after midnight. Sunday Partly sunny, with a high near 21. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Sunday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 10. Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 21. Monday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 7. Tuesday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 16. Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 3. Wednesday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 18. Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 6. Thursday Partly sunny, with a high near 18. |
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Photos from webcams at wvbi.net and mackinacbridge.org |
