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A month after historic ice storms hit Northern Michigan, nearly 700 miles of state forest roads remain impassable. DNR crews say cleanup could take months, with over 3 million acres affected. The volume of downed trees is also raising wildfire risks. Governor Whitmer has requested more time to seek federal disaster aid as damage assessments continue. Newly released maps show state officials quietly reviewed more than 4,800 acres of public land across Northern Michigan for potential solar development—some of it heavily forested near Fife Lake, Mancelona, and Muskrat Lake. The goal: boost clean energy by 2040. Critics argue deforesting public land undercuts climate goals and harms the timber industry. Supporters say with limited low-conflict private land, public sites near power lines may be essential. The DNR paused new leases after backlash, but debate continues over how—and where—to build out renewable energy. The U.S. Justice Department has filed lawsuits against Michigan, Hawaii, New York, and Vermont, claiming their climate actions conflict with federal authority and President Trump’s energy agenda. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel plans to sue oil companies for climate damage, but the DOJ argues such lawsuits overstep the Clean Air Act. Critics call the move an intimidation tactic to protect fossil fuel interests, while states vow to keep holding polluters accountable. On the Island, there was a large turn-out at B-I-C-S Wednesday evening for the annual sports awards. The Soccer, Volleyball and Basketball squads were all recognized by their coaches with awards for most improved, best offensive and defensive players and M-V-P, Izzy DeLaat and Sophie McDonough took home special awards given by vote of coaches from the other teams in the Northern Lights League. Principal and Superintendent Wil Cwikiel wrapped up the evening with a challenge to bring home the Kitty McNamara sportsmanship award, which goes each year to a school in the league. This year that “other” Island won the award. |
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Now, here’s a look at events happening on your Emerald Isle… First your meeting planner… AA meets Saturday at 6:00 and nest week Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at the same time. Next week, Peaine Township Planning Commission meets Tuesday at 9:00. B-I-C-S Committee of the Whole meets Wednesday at 5:30. Medical First Responder Classes continue with session Wednesday and Thursday evening at 7:00. That’s it on the meeting front. More details are in the calendar entries online. On the fun front today… Friday, seniors and veterans can enjoy Coffee & Donuts at the BIC Center starting at 9 AM. Pickleball at 10:00 and the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program at 10:30 are at the BIC Center in the Theater and Hangout, respectively. [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 Fiero Code Club is on at the library at 2 PM. And Saturday evening is Classic Cinema time at the BIC Center. In the feature for this month Warren Beaty and Faye Dunaway are Bonnie and Clyde in this groundbreaking film from 1967. Showtime is 6 p.m. It’s rated R. Saturday also kicks off the Beaver Island Wildlife Club’s annual tree and shrub giveaway. The plants will be at Levi’s shed on Paid Een Ogs Road. They’ll have 300 shrubs plus 150 trees. Saturday is for members only — but you can join for just $25. Distribution for all will be on Sunday. Supplies are limited and must be picked up in person. [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 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, there’s Cardio Drumming up in the Hangout at the BIC Center at 10:00. An at 5:00, there’s Qigong [chi gong] Practice at the BIC Center lead by Tina Carlton. Tuesday, Talking Threads is on at Peaine Township Hall at 9:30. Babes and Toddlers mix it up at the library at 10:00. There’s Pickleball at 10:00 in the theater at the BIC Center and the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program at 10:30 in the Hangout. That’s followed by Senior Tai Chi at 11:30. At 2:30, it’s Story Time at the library. Tuesday evening is trivia time at the BIC Center. Let’s Get Quizzical starts at 6:00. Sign up your team at tickets dot bic center dot org. Wednesday, there’s C-O-A bingo at 1:00 in the Hangout at the BIC Center. Thursday, there’s Cardio Drumming at 10:00 in the Hangout and Pickleball at 10:00 in the Theater, both at the BIC Center and Women’s Bible Study at the Christian Church also at 10:00. Thursday evening it’s Burger & a Beer at the Shamrock at 5 PM. And next Friday is the 3rd through 6th grade play Get Up and Go. Curtain time is 7:00 at the BIC Center. Get your tickets at the BIC Center front desk. |
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NAME OF DAY: The BIC Center Name of the Day is Carissa. If that’s your name, head on down to the BIC Center to pick out a free drink of your choice. BIRTHDAYS: None on the list today but if we missed you on the list, Happy Birthday to you 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: The W-V-B-I virtual octocopter is flying high in the Island skies and spies…no traffic. But, cleanup work continues down-island. So, watch out for the road crews and let’s be careful out there. |
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On this day in 1983 Microsoft Corp. announces the two-button Microsoft Mouse, which it introduces to go along with its new Microsoft Word processor. Microsoft builds about 100,000 of these fairly primitive units for use with IBM and IBM-compatible personal computers but sells only 5,000 before finding success in a 1985 version that features, among other improvements, near-silent operation on all surfaces. Image from neowin.net |
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is Ziggurat (noun) [ZIG-uh-rat], an ancient Mesopotamian temple consisting of a pyramidal structure built in successive stages with outside staircases and a shrine at the top. The word ziggurat is also sometimes used for a similarly shaped structure.
Image from brtitanica.com |
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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 Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates: “If you can’t make it good, at least make it look good.” |
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On a lighter note… What’s the difference between a hamster and a mouse? You cannot connect a hamster to a computer. |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Friday, May 2nd, 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 A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly between 2pm and 5pm. Patchy fog between 9am and 10am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 45. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Tonight A 10 percent chance of showers before 8pm. Patchy fog before 11pm, then patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 35. Calm wind. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Sunday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Monday A chance of showers between 8am and 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 55. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Monday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Tuesday Partly sunny, with a high near 56. Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 59. Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 56. |
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Fire Danger Level on the Island set at High. |
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Out on the Big Drink… |
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Today NW wind around 10 kt. A chance of sprinkles before 9am, then a slight chance of showers between 9am and 4pm, then a chance of sprinkles after 4pm. Patchy fog before 10am. Waves around 1 ft. Saturday Variable winds 5 kt or less. Patchy fog between 8am and 9am. Waves 1 ft or less. Sunday NE wind 5 to 10 kt. Mostly sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. ENE wind 10 to 15 kt. A chance of showers before 1pm. Waves around 2 ft. Tuesday NE wind 5 to 10 kt becoming W in the afternoon. A chance of showers. Waves 1 ft or less. |
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Water Temperature: 38 mid-lake…between Manitowoc and Ludington |
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Photos from webcams at wvbi.net and mackinacbridge.org |
