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The Michigan Court of Appeals ruled yesterday that the state can largely continue enforcing its controversial renewable energy siting law, which shifts most control of permitting for large wind, solar, and battery projects those projects from local government to the Michigan Public Service Commission. The three-judge panel upheld most of the state’s permitting rules, but sided with local governments on two narrower issues involving approval timelines and which communities qualify for compensation and project input. The ruling could affect several renewable energy projects currently awaiting state approval.
A 32-year-old Ellsworth man was killed Wednesday evening in a fiery single-vehicle crash in East Jordan. Police say the vehicle went off Water Street, struck a tree, and caught fire shortly after seven o’clock. The driver, identified as Caiden Miller, was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash remains under investigation.
The National Park Service plans two prescribed burns covering nearly twelve-hundred acres in the Platte Plains area of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore before the end of May. Officials say the controlled burns will help restore habitat, reduce wildfire risk, and manage invasive species.
A Lowell angler has landed a new Michigan state-record gizzard shad. Sedrick Neinhuis caught the four-point-four-five-pound fish while fishing the Grand River in Kent County last month. The Michigan D-N-R confirmed the catch, breaking a nearly 30-year-old state record set on Lake St. Clair back in 1996.
The record for the Michigan native fish Gizzard Shad has been upped with a 4.45 ponder pulled from the Grand River. Photo provided by Michigan DNR via MLive
Hard to believe, but Memorial Day weekend is now just two weeks away with two signature events for the Island to kick off the summer season. On Friday the 22nd Warblers on the Water 2026 kicks off with a meet and greet at the Print Shop Museum. All are invited to enjoy snacks and beverages with the event field guides. Field Trips for the B-I-A sponsored event start Saturday Morning and run through Sunday with sojourns to Garden Island and kayak tours on Lake G among the offerings. You can sign up for field trips at tickets dot bic center dot org.
Warblers on the Water has added Lake Geneserath Kayak outings to this year’s lineup of Field Trips. Register at tickets.biccenter.org Photo provided by Warblers on the Water
Saturday evening, there’s the annual “Is Everybody Happy” Party honoring Ed Palmer and the tradition of music on the Island. The event will feature performances by TUNES students and teachers, including fiddlers, a rock band, Irish music, and special family performances. There’ll also be raffles and prizes throughout the night, including a three-thousand-dollar grand prize, concert tickets, casino getaway packages, food, dancing, and outdoor seating. More info and raffle tickets are available at tunes music makers dot org.
Memorial Day weekend events are just around the corner. Is everybody happy? Graphic from Tunes Music Makers
And, while we are on the topic of birds and music, Island bird tracker Pam Grassmick reports that humming birds have arrived on the Island for the season. Time to get the feeders out, she says.
And, another sign of spring is the Annual Flower Sale at McDonough’s. That starts next Saturday the 16th.
And, while you are thinking about planting, the library is giving away free bottle gourd seeds while supplies last. They say now is the perfect time to start them indoors before transplanting them outside in mid-June. The project is inspired by the N-E-A Big Read selection “The Bear” by Andrew Krivak and is part of the Seed Library program.
Get your garden going with bottle gourd seed from the seed library. Graphic from Beaver Island District Library |
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Now here’s a look at events happening on your Emerald Isle…
First your meeting planner…
A-A meets tonight and Saturday at 6:00. St. James Board has a special meeting set for Friday at 1:00. Locations and more details are in the calendar entries online.
On the fun front today…
Thursday Women’s Bible Study is on at 10:00 at the Christian Church. Pickleball is moving outside for the season. Find the games on the township courts behind Peaine Township Hall starting at 10:00. Meantime at 10:00 over at Peaine Township Hall, C-O-A has Cardio Drumming. At 10:30 up in the Hangout at the BIC Center there’s Senior Tai Chi. Thursday evening, you can grab the burger & a beer special at the Shamrock starting at 5:00, and its Euchre Night down at Whiskey Point Brewing. Cards hit the table at 7:00.
[Thursday evening on the radio, drop in for W-V-B-I’s newest music show. It’s The Underground with Leila Freijy. It’s the underground sound of grunge and more from the 80s and 90s with special features every week. Tune in at 7:00 for two hours Underground.]
Friday, Senior + Vets Coffee & Donuts is at the BIC Center from 9:00 to 11:00. There’s Pickleball at 10:00 on the township courts and Chair Strength Training at 10:30 up in the Hangout at the BIC Center. At 10:00, the Green Terra Sanctury is holding a meet and greet open house. Meet the owners and caretakers. They are on the south leg of Mrs. Reddings Trail by Oliver Point.
Moms are invited to drop by the BIC Center tomorrow to join vets and seniors for Coffee & Donuts from 9:00 to 11:00. Graphic from the BIC Center
[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.]
Highlights for the rest of the week include…
Saturday, the B-I-C-S Track Team is off to Pickford for a meet. Talking Threads meets at 9:00 a.m. at Peaine Township Hall. The Fiero Code Club is on at the library at 1:00. The Queen of Hearts draw is at the Elks at 7:00 with all invited. And, remember, 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, 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, is Mother’s Day. There are services at the Christian Church at 10:00 and mass at Holy Cross at 12:15.
Looking ahead to highlights for next week…
Monday the Beachcomber has All You Can Eat Pizza and Salad night.
Tuesday at 10:00, Babes & Toddlers mix it up at the library and there is Pickleball outside on the township courts and, at 10:30, there’s Chair Strength Training up in the Hangout. At 2:15 there’s a Home School Meet-up at the library.
Pizza Night has moved back to the Beachcomber where the kitchen is open once again. Put the feed bag on from 5 to 8 on Mondays. Graphic from the Beachcomber on Facebook
Wednesday, there’s BINGO at 1:00 at the BIC Center. At 3:00, C-O-A has Art Therapy & Games at Peaine Township Hall. And at 3:30 the library has an after-school Lego club event. Drop in and build something cool.
Thursday Women’s Bible Study is on at 10:00 at the Christian Church. Pickleball is now outside for the season. Find the games on the township courts behind Peaine Township Hall starting at 10:00. Meantime at 10:00 over at Peaine Township Hall, C-O-A has Cardio Drumming. At 10:30 up in the Hangout at the BIC Center there’s Senior Tai Chi. Thursday evening, you can grab the burger & a beer special at the Shamrock starting at 5:00, and its the last Euchre Night of the season down at Whiskey Point Brewing. Cards hit the table at 7:00.
[Thursday evening on the radio, drop in for W-V-B-I’s newest music show. It’s The Underground with Leila Freijy. It’s the underground sound of grunge and more from the 80s and 90s with special features every week. Tune in at 7:00 for two hours Underground.]
Next Friday is the Fifth and Sixth grade play. [Dunh Dunh SFX] It’s Law & Order, Nursery Rhymes Unit. Come see the Rhyme Crimes solved. Curtain time is 7:00 p.m. |
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Today’s BIC Center Name of the Day is Gabriel. If that’s your name, come on it to the BIC Center to pick out a free drink of your choice. |
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On our Birthday List today: Patrick Cull, Livi Dean and Chelsea Smith are celebrating today. Happy Birthday to Chelsea, Livi and Patrick, and if we missed you on the list, Happy Birthday to you too from everyone at the BIC Center and WVBI. |
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TRAFFIC: No delays inbound or outbound to the airports. The Island Beltway is running smoothly. There are no bridge delays. Still, let’s be careful out there, especially in the school zone. |
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On this date in 1886, a wounded Civil War veteran and Atlanta pharmacist named Dr. John Pemberton poured the first glass of what would become Coca-Cola. Originally sold as a patent medicine for headaches, exhaustion, and other ailments, the drink contained coca leaf extract and kola nut caffeine—and yes, early versions even included cocaine. What began as a five-cent “miracle tonic” at Jacob’s Pharmacy would grow into one of the most recognized brands in the world. Dr. John Stith Pemberton, a local pharmacist, produced the syrup for Coca‑Cola, and carried a jug of the new product down the street to Jacobs’ Pharmacy, where it was sampled, pronounced “excellent” and placed on sale for five cents a glass as a soda fountain drink. Image from The Coca-Cola Company |
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Our Merriam-Webster Word of the Day is wistful (adjective) [WIST-ful]. Wistful means quietly sad or longing for something from the past—like an old memory, a place you miss, or a happier time. A wistful smile or sigh shows that feeling. The word combines ideas from “wishful” and the now obsolete “wistly” meaning intently and “whist” meaning silent. |
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Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Friday… |
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Here’s a thought for this V-E Day from Prime Minister Winston Churchill: “The empires of the future are the empires of the mind.” |
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On a lighter note: Why is the letter A like a flower? Because a B comes after it! |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Friday, May 8, 2026. I’m Kevin Boyle reporting from W-V-B-I’s Langford Family Studios wishing you a great day and asking: why not go ahead and make it the best day ever? And thanks for listening. |
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Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph. Tonight A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Saturday A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 8am. Partly sunny, with a high near 50 by the water, 56 inland. West wind 10 to 15 mph. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 37. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 47/52. West wind 10 to 15 mph. Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 36. Monday Sunny, with a high near 47/52. Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 36. Tuesday A chance of showers after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 48/54. Tuesday Night A chance of showers before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 51/55. Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 54/59. |
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Town: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-85.52&lat=45.748 |
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Out on the Big Drink … |
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Today SW wind 5 to 10 kt. Mostly sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. Saturday WSW wind 10 to 15 kt becoming WNW in the afternoon. Scattered showers before 1pm, then scattered sprinkles between 1pm and 2pm. Waves 1 to 2 ft. Sunday W wind around 10 kt. Mostly sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. Monday NW wind 5 to 10 kt becoming WSW in the afternoon. Sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. Tuesday SSE wind 5 to 10 kt becoming ENE in the afternoon. A chance of showers. Waves 1 ft or less. |
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Midway to Charlevoix: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-85.384&lat=45.532 |
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Fire Danger Level on the Island is set at High. And it is elevated across Northern Michigan. Remember, only you can prevent wild fires. |
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Air Quality Index at 6:30 this morning was 26. |
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Coming up in our Community Calendar Report…
Michigan’s controversial law shifting approval of large wind and solar projects from local governments to the state survives a major court challenge. We’ll have details on the appeals court ruling. Also ahead: a fatal crash in East Jordan, prescribed burns planned at Sleeping Bear Dunes, a new Michigan state-record fish, hummingbirds returning to the Island, and with Memorial Day weekend events just two weeks away, a look at signature events on the Island.
…those stories plus a run-down of local meetings and events, birthdays, our word of the day and more after global and national news from F-S-N. [Time check.] |
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Today’s Featured Image: Warblers on the Water has added Lake Geneserath Kayak outings to this year’s lineup of Field Trips. Register at tickets.biccenter.org Photo provided by Warblers on the Water |
