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Today we continue our review of what’s on the ballot next week with a look at four countywide millages and an Island-wide Beaver Island District Library proposal. Peaine Township voters will also see three additional township millage proposals that we’ll look at on Monday. — The countywide questions include three millage renewals. One would renew a quarter-mill for Charlevoix County Transit, expected to raise about $834,000 in its first year. Another would renew 0.15 mill for county parks, raising about $500,000 for park operations and improvements. A third would renew 0.1 mill for the County Veterans Affairs Department, raising an estimated $333,000. Together, those three renewals would cost the owner of a home with a taxable value of $100,000 about $50 a year. — The fourth countywide proposal is not a millage renewal. Instead, it asks voters to continue for another five years the way the county’s constitutional operating tax authority is divided among the county, the townships, and the intermediate school district. It would not create a new tax or change the total 5.9-mill limit, but would continue the current allocation of 4.7 mills for the county, one mill for townships, and two-tenths of a mill for the intermediate school district. — The fifth proposal on both township ballots comes from the library, which is asking voters to renew its one-mill operating levy for four years. Most of that is a renewal of the previously approved millage, with a small additional amount restoring tax authority that has been reduced over time by the Headlee Amendment. If approved, the library expects to collect about $159,000 in 2026 for library operations and services. — Peaine Township votes will also decide proposals for the airport, emergency medical services, and township roads. We’ll cover those on Monday. #Election2026 The library has added something different to its collection. It’s a loaner telescope that’s powerful enough to enjoy planetary and distant galaxy views, but very straightforward to operate. Dave Clark helped select it, and it will be available for use at the Island’s upcoming Dark Sky Festival the first week of September. #DarkSkies #Events #Education
Library director Jacquie LaFreniere checks out the new library telescope. Photo by Kevin Boyle
Tickets are now sold out for the Feile and going fast for the BIC Center W-V-B-I Havana Nights Gala. There are just 55 left as of this morning, and they usually go quickly the week before the event. You can pick your Gala tickets up at the BIC Center from desk or at tickets dot bic center dot org. #Events Beaver Island Community School is hiring for a full-time school-year position combining food service and custodial duties. The job includes preparing school meals, managing the nutrition program, and helping maintain the school building. Pay is $19 to $21 an hour with benefits. Applications are due August 7. Details are available from the school or by calling 231-448-2744. #Employment And, the Beaver Island Rural Health Center is looking for a nurse practitioner or physician assistant to join its medical team. The position includes three clinic days a week, shared on-call responsibilities, competitive pay and benefits, and the opportunity to provide primary and urgent care for patients of all ages while working with another advanced practice provider, local EMS, and an off-Island physician. More information is available from the Health Center or at biruralhealth.org. #Employment |
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Now here’s a look at upcoming events on your Emerald Isle… First your meeting planner… Health Center Board has called a special meeting for today at 3:00 at the Print Shop Museum. A-A meets Saturday at 6:00 at the Christian Church. Next week, Peaine Township Planning Commission meets on Monday at 5:00. Election Day is Tuesday with the polls open 7 am to 8 pm. Wednesday, the St. James Finance Advisory Committee meets at 1:30. A-A meets Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 6:00. That’s it through the end of next week. On the fun front today… Friday, there’s Senior and Vets Coffee and Donuts from 8:30 to 10:30 in the Welcome Center at the BIC Center, plus Chair Strength Training up in the Hangout at 9:30. Also at 9:30, there’s Summer Yoga in the Theater. And at 10:00 A-M Pickleball Outdoors on the Peaine Township courts.
[On the radio, Kick off your weekend with our fantastic Friday lineup! After the 6:00pm news, enjoy “That Thing with Rich Appel” featuring top forty hits from the 70s. At 9:00pm, tune into “The Titus Jennings Experience” offering music from all genres, followed by “The Midnight Special” with Marilyn Rea Beyer at 11:00pm for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.] Saturday, the Artisan’s Market is on at the Point starting at 10:00. A celebration of the life of James Allan Cull is set for 2 p.m. at Holy Cross Cemetery. There’ll be a memorial ride to the Point, a graveside service, and a final toast at Angeline’s Bluff. Saturday night, Baroque on Beaver closes festival performances at the BIC Center for 2026 with an unforgettable evening of opera favorites, featuring beloved arias and dramatic scenes introduced by the Island’s own Peter Amster. Showtime is 7:30. Tickets are at tickets dot bic center dot org. Following the performance, raise a celebratory glass to honor Maestro Robert Nordling and celebrate his passing of the baton to Nathan Bieber for the next chapter of Baroque on Beaver. And Saturday nights are Prime Rib Night at the Shamrock. [On the radio, tune in for Country Classics at 5:00 Saturday evening with host Sheri Timsak. At 7:00, take a trip back to the best of the 80s and 90s with the Mix Tape show (that’s a 120-minute TDK cassette tape for those in the know) hosted by WVBI’s Adam Pettigrew. 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, there are services at the Episcopal Mission at 9:00 and at the Christian Church at 10:00. Mass is at Holy Cross at 12:15. And the Amik Cultural Center is open 1 to 3 PM. And Baroque closes its season with Brass on the Bay at 3:00 at the Donegal Bay Pavillion with its commanding view of Donegal Bay. Refreshments will be served and Metallurgy, Baroque’s resident brass ensemble formed in 2010 will play. Free-will donations will be appreciated. Those can be made at tickets dot bic center dot org.
Looking ahead to highlights for next week…
Monday, at 9:30, summer yoga is on at the BIC Center. It’ll be a session on Basic Flow. COA has Cardio Drumming at 10:00 and Art Therapy at 11:00 at Peaine Township Hall. At 11:00, there’s Summer Therapeutic Chair Yoga at the BIC Center and over at the library, it’s the Senior Digital Café. Monday is Funday at the BIC Center with movies on this Monday. The 3:00 show is Hoppers. A young animal lover uses technology that places her consciousness into a robotic beaver to uncover mysteries within the animal world beyond her imagination. It’s the latest from Pixar, rated PG. At 6:00 it’s Remarkably Bright Creatures, based on the best-selling book, telling the story of an Octopus and its relationship with two caregivers at an aquarium. Sally Field stars. Rated PG-13. And, don’t forget, Monday evenings are All You Can Eat Pizza and Salad night at the Beachcomber, so you can go next door to grab dinner before or after the show.
Tuesday, at 9:00 there is Pickleball on the Peaine Township Courts. At 9:30, there’s Chair Strength Training up in the Hangout at the BIC Center. At 10:00, Babes & Toddlers mix it up at the library. In our Dark Skies, you might be able to see Comet 10P/Tempel 2 with binoculars. Here’s when to look, what to expect, and how to find 10P/Tempel 2 in the sky. To check the comet’s position and visibility for your exact location, you can use an app linked in our script online. It will continue to grow in brightness until it reaches its peak from August 3rd through the 12th.
Wednesday, there’s Summer Restorative Yoga BIC Center at 9:30. At 10:00 at the library kids can make clay fossils. Also at, 10:00 there’s American Mah Jongg at the BIC Center in the Hangout, and at 1:00 there is Afternoon Bingo. Protar’s House will be open from 1:00 to 4:00, and at 4:00 the Amik Cultural Preservation Center will be open.
Thursday, there’s Pickleball at Peaine Township Park at 9:00. The COA’s normal Cardio Drumming and Art Therapy is off today on vacation. Those sessions return mid-August. There’s Women’s Bible Study at 10:00 a.m. at the BI Christian Church and at 10:30, there’s Senior Tai Chi at the BIC Center. Weekly Bocce Ball rolls start at 4:00 on the courts at the Peaine Township Park. The BIC Center/WVBI Havana Nights Summer Gala is on at the Holy Cross Hall starting at 5:30. Step into the vibrant spirit of old Havana for an unforgettable evening of celebration, community, and giving with lively music and delicious food to raffle, silent and live auction items. Al proceeds go to support the BIC Center and WVBI. Tickets are $75 at tickets dot bic center dot org. And, Thursday evenings are Burger and a Beer Night at the Shamrock. |
| Those are the highlights. Find a full listing of events at calendar dot W-V-B-I dot net. |
| Today’s BIC Center Name of the Day is Dale. If that’s your name, come on in to the BIC Center today to pick out a free drink of your choice. |
| On our Birthday List today are Joanie Adams, Ann Miller and Rose Hockey. Happy Birthday to Rose, Ann and Joanie, and if we missed you on the list, Happy Birthday to you too from everyone at the BIC Center and WVBI. |
| TRAFFIC: No delays inbound or outbound to the airports. The Island Beltway is running smoothly with no bridge delays. It is still busy in town when the ferries arrive, and lots of bikers, hikers and musicians hurrying to practices or performances, so let’s be careful out there. |
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On this date in 1790, President George Washington signs the nation’s first U.S. patent, granting Samuel Hopkins exclusive rights to a new process for making potash, an important ingredient in fertilizer, soap, and glass. The patent marks the beginning of America’s system for protecting inventors. And, on this date in 1971, Apollo 15 astronauts David Scott and James Irwin become the first people to drive a vehicle on the Moon, using the Lunar Roving Vehicle to travel farther than any astronauts before them and greatly expand the mission’s scientific exploration.
Apollo 15 astronaut Jim Irwin stands at the Lunar Rover, with Mt. Hadley as a backdrop, taken at the end of EVA-1. Photo by Dave Scott for NASA from Wikimedia |
| Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is comely (adjective) [KUM-lee]. It means attractive or pleasing to look at, but it’s an old-fashioned word you don’t hear much anymore. Comely comes from the word become, which centuries ago could mean “to suit” or “to be fitting.” So something comely wasn’t just pretty—it was considered graceful or appropriate in appearance. You probably won’t hear someone described as comely every day, but it’s a classic word that’s been around for more than 700 years. |
| Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Friday… |
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Here’s a thought for the day from Lunar driver Jim Irwin: “The only way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” |
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On a lighter note… Did you hear about the guy who’s trying to patent a time machine? His applications keep getting thrown out on the basis of prior art. |
| That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Friday, July 31st, 2026. 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 today the best day ever? And thanks for listening. |
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| WEATHER |
| [Current Condition Report, then…] |
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Today A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a steady temperature around 70/79. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Tonight A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 8pm. Cloudy, with a low around 64. Northwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Saturday A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11am, then a chance of showers between 11am and 5pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5pm. Cloudy, with a steady temperature around 67/72. North wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Saturday Night A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Northeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 73/81. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Sunday Night Clear, with a low around 61. Monday Sunny, with a high near 74/82. Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 65. Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 75/78. Tuesday Night A chance of showers after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. Wednesday A chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 75/79. Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 75/78. |
| Air Quality Index at 7:20am was 62. |
| Fire Danger: Moderate |
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Out on the Big Drink…
Photo from the North Lake Michigan Buoy. Provided by the National Data Buoy Center |
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Today W wind 5 to 10 kt. Isolated showers before 10am, then scattered showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Waves 1 ft or less. Saturday N wind 5 to 10 kt. Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 4pm, then a slight chance of thunderstorms after 5pm. Waves 1 ft or less. Sunday NE wind 10 to 15 kt. Sunny. Waves 1 to 2 ft. Monday Variable winds 5 kt or less. Sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. Tuesday SSW wind around 10 kt. Sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. |
| Water Temps: 63 at the mid-lake buoy southwest of Gull Island. 70 at Sleeping Bear and in the Straits. 71 in Little Traverse Bay. |
  Photos from webcams at wvbi.net and mackinacbridge.org |
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Coming up in our Community Calendar Report…
We continue our look at Tuesday’s election with a review of the countywide millage proposals and the Beaver Island District Library request. And, speaking of the library, they’veadded a new telescope you can check out, Havana Nights tickets are disappearing fast, and we have a look at the final Baroque events. More local stories, a run down of Island events plus, our word of the day, this day in history, birthdays, some inspitation and a bad joke are all coming up after a global and national news check from F-S-N. [Time check.] |
| Today’s featured image: Library director Jacquie LaFreniere checks out the new library telescope. Photo by Kevin Boyle |
Community Calendar Report for Friday, July 31st, 2026
