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The Beaver Island Archipelago Trails Association says they’ve finished work clearing seven Island trails. BIATA leader Geni Mangra says there was a lot of storm damage on the trails, but with lodging and breakfast support from the Beaver Island Retreat, a hardy crew of volunteers got the job done. They’ll be celebrating their success at 11:30 with a community pizza lunch at the BIC Center. All are welcome. And you can help with future work by joining BIATA while you dine. Gina Mangra with just some of the volunteers she lead in the trail clean-up project. Selfie by Gina Mangra Lab number one at the C-M-U bio station was busy last evening with an open house hosted by the Northern Michigan University Archaeology Filed Class. They had extensive artifacts on display from their work out at Whiskey Point and by the Public Beach parking lot. Lots of clay pipes, china, glass, knick-nacks and more, all of it carefully examined, cleaned and catalog. The lab was full of Islanders having a look and talking with the student archaeologists. Class leader Professor Scott Demel is working on a book that will cover the work of Field Classes on the Island over a decade of summers.
NMU Archaeology Field School open-house underway at Lab #1 at the CMU Bio Station. Photo by Kevin Boyle If you’ve been wondering about what the next Island ferry might look like, the Transportation Authority will scratch that itch with an Open House next Saturday, the 21st. A traditional steel hull is undergoing consideration as is a next-generation vessel with an alternative hull style made from lightweight materials and possibly powered by hybrid engines. There’ll be marine vessel experts on hand to discuss the options. You can drop by anytime between 9:00 and 11:00. Then from 1:00 to 3:00 there will be public tours of a testbed vessel at Marina South. It demonstrates a modern hull design that can be built from lightweight materials. You’ll probably see it in the marina beginning on the 17th, but next Saturday you’ll be able to take a look on board. In other Great Lakes Island news… Mackinac Island faces economic strangulation according to some folks there, that as a result of rising ferry prices. They say families now face day-trip fees topping $200. A Florida company, the Hoffmann Family of Companies, now controls all ferry service, and has raised prices and added new fees. State Senator John Damoose has introduced a bill to let the island regulate ferry operations, fearing the cost surge could drive visitors away. The issue is now under review in Lansing. And, up on Lake Superior, the F-B-I has joined the investigation of two deaths up on Isle Royale. The campers were found last Sunday after rangers hiked 11 miles overnight to get to the victims’ campsite. They’ve not been identified, and the cause of death is unknown. |
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Now, here’s a look at events happening on your Emerald Isle… First your meeting planner… A-A meets Saturday at 6:00. That’s it this week. On the fun front today… Friday, there’s Senior + Vets Coffee + Donuts at the BIC Center from 9:00 to 11:00. Also at the BIC Center, Chair Strength Training in the Hangout at 10:00. And the C-O-A has a Walkersize walk from Heritage Park to the St. James Campground and back. Friday evening at 6:00, the annual Beaver Island Bike Festival gets under way with registration and a kick-off party at the Emerald Isle Hotel. [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, kicks off with the Artisan’s Market out by the lighthouse at Whiskey Point. There’s Pickleball outdoors at 10:00. There’s a Print Shop Open House at 11:00 with some new exhibitions on tap. Fiero Code Club is on at the library at 2 PM. Saturday afternoon, the Chamber is sponsoring a touring party at the Boat Shop, Wild Strawberry Café, Whiskey Point Brewing Company and Gregg Graphics from 4 to 6. Drop by for refreshments and appetizers. Then at 6, it’s a Dads Rock Open Mic night at the BIC Center led by Paul Lamb and Herb Ledbetter. And Saturdays 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, 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, there are services and Episcopal Mission at 9:00 and the Christian Church at 10:00, and Mass at Holy Cross at 12:15. Looking ahead to highlights for next week… Monday, Wildlife Club meets with the DNR at 7:30 in the morning at Peaine Township Hall. Summer Yoga gets underway at the BIC Center with the first session of the season at 9:30 in the Theater at the BIC Center. Northern Lake Michigan Islands collaborative kicks off their summer meetings at the BIC Center at 9:00. C-O-A has Cardio Drumming at 10:00 and a Crafter’s Workshop at 11:00, both out at Peaine Township Hall. The Tenth annual Beaver Island Sustainability Fair gets underway at 7:00 Monday evening with dual presentations out at the C-M-U Biological Station. You’ll learn about Tribal Fisheries and the Island’s Dark Skies. And, don’t forget: Monday evening is all you can eat pizza night at the Beachcomber. And in our Dark Skies, assuming it is clear, tonight will be a great night for summer constellation view. Look for Arcturus high in the east, noticeable for its brightness and yellow-orange color. Next, look for Vega rather low in the northeast. It’s a bright blue-white star. Then look for the Northern Crown between these 2 bright stars. It’s a bit closer to Arcturus. Plus, look for Mars, which will pass almost next to Regulus tonight in the West starting around 11:00 p.m. While they are roughly the same brightness, notice the color difference. Regulus shines with a bluish light and Mars is a steady reddish light. There’s more at Dark Sky Island dot org. Tuesday, there’s Chair Strength Training at the BIC Center at 9:00. Babes and Toddlers mix it up at the library at 10:00. Also, at 10:00, pickleball outdoors on the Peaine Township courts. At 10:30, there’s C-O-A Walkersize with a walk from Heritage Park out to the St. James Campground and back. At 2:00 the library’s summer reading parties continue. Treats, games, and crafts are included, and all ages are welcome! Sustainability Fair events continue with a session on sustainable energy options for the Island out at the Bio station at 3:00. Our summer constellation hunt continues tonight. Look for Boötes the Herdsman which is shaped like a kite or an ice cream cone. Arcturus, at the base is the brightest star in the constellation. There’s more at Dark Sky Island dot org. Wednesday, Summer Yoga at the BIC Center continues its first week at 9:30 with a restorative session. The library has plenty going on. There’s Kids Storytime, Drafts and Art for three years and up at 10:00 and then for 10 years and up at 11:00. At the BIC Center, there’s Bingo at 1:00 in the Hangout at the BIC Center. At 3:00 C-O-A has Fun & Gamers out at Peaine Township Hall. The sustainability Fair continues with a session on Green Innovations and Critical Hope. That’ll be out at the Bio Station at 7:00. Also at 7:00, there’s BINGO at the Gregg Fellowship Center. Doors open at 6:15 for fellowship. Thursday, at 10:00 there’s a lot going on: Pickleball is outdoors on the Peaine Township Courts, Tai Chi in the Hangout at the BIC Center, C-O-A Cardio Drumming is on out at the Peaine Township Hall and Women’s Bible Study is at the Christian Church. Again, all of those events starting at 10:00. The Sustainability Fair heads to Tara’s Meadow for a session at 1:00 on a sustainable, eco-friendly Sludgehammer Septic System. They will actually install such a system as part of the presentation. Thursday evening it’s Burger & a Beer at the Shamrock at 5 PM. In our dark sky, after sunset, the very thin waxing crescent moon will hang above the western horizon and will lie between Mercury and Pollux. And the other twin star of Gemini, Castor, will be nearby. There’s more info at dark sky island dot org. |
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NAME OF DAY: The BIC Center Name of the Day is Karen. If that’s your name, come on into the BIC Center today to pick out a free drink of your choice. BIRTHDAYS: Susie Harmon, Austyn Oliver and Juliette Maudrie are celebrating today Happy Birthday to Juliette, Suusie and Austyn and, if we missed you on the list, Happy Birthday to you too from everyone at WVBI and your Beaver Island Community Center! |
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TRAFFIC: No delays inbound or outbound to the airports. The island beltway is running smoothly with no bridge delays. Still, let’s be careful out there…especially around the school zone |
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On this day in 1967, President Lyndon Johnson nominates Solicitor General Thurgood Marshall to the US Supreme Court, saying it’s “the right thing to do, the right time to do it, the right man and the right place.” The first African American nominee will be confirmed and serve 24 years on the court.
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is rambunctious (adjective) [ram-BUNK-shuss], which describes someone or something showing uncontrolled exuberance. Rambunctious appeared on the scene in the early 1800s along with rip-roaring, scalawag, scrumptious, hornswoggle, and skedaddle are other examples of the lively language of the time. Did Americans alter the largely British rumbustious because it sounded, well, British? That could be. Rumbustious, which first appeared in Britain in the late 1700s just after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, was probably based on robustious, a much older adjective meaning both “robust” and “boisterous.” |
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Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Friday… |
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Here’s a thought for the day Tim Allen, who was born on this day in 1953: “If you don’t decide where you’re going, life will decide for you.” |
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On a lighter note… Here’s another thought from Tim Allen: If it ain’t broke, you can probably still fix it. |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Friday, June 13th, 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 Showers likely, mainly after 2pm. Cloudy, with a high near 56. East wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Tonight Showers likely, mainly before 11pm. Cloudy, with a low around 48. East wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Saturday A 20 percent chance of showers after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61. East wind around 15 mph. Saturday Night A slight chance of showers before 8pm, then a slight chance of showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. East wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Sunday A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65. East wind around 10 mph. Sunday Night A 30 percent chance of showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. Monday A 30 percent chance of showers before 8am. Partly sunny, with a high near 66. Monday Night A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. Tuesday A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67. Tuesday Night Showers likely, mainly after 2am. Cloudy, with a low around 56. Wednesday Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68. Wednesday Night A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Juneteenth Partly sunny, with a high near 67. |
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Fire Danger Level on the Island set at Moderate. |
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Out on the Big Drink… |
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Today ENE wind 5 to 15 kt. A chance of showers, mainly after 1pm. Waves 1 ft or less. Saturday E wind around 10 kt. A chance of showers, mainly between 1pm and 4pm. Waves around 1 ft. Sunday Variable winds 5 kt or less. A slight chance of showers. Waves 1 ft or less. Monday SW wind 5 to 10 kt. Partly sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. Tuesday SSE wind around 10 kt becoming WSW in the afternoon. A chance of showers. Waves 1 ft or less. |
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Water Temperature: It’s 48 in Little Traverse Bay. The North Lake Michigan buoy southwest of Gull is reporting 46 with waves less than a foot.
Mid Lake Michigan photo at time shown. Provided by NWS |
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Photos from webcams at wvbi.net and mackinacbridge.org |
