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First some news… About 120 Michigan National Guard soldiers are heading to the U.S. southern border to assist federal agents. The 1430th Engineer Company will support Customs and Border Protection operations in the Southwest for up to a year — their sixth border mission since 2020 and first major deployment since serving in Afghanistan in 2010. Efforts to add affordable housing to the Island have made the mainland news. The 1.8 million dollar Juniper development is featured in an M-Live report that covers the shipping of modular housing units to the Island and their subsequent installation. M-Live has also covered Merit Network’s installation of fiber on the island including plans by a consortium of island non-profits to provide high speed service at key Island locations using microwave links to the mainland until the under-lake fiber work is complete. There are links to the stories in today’s script online. Housing and fiber projects on the Island are getting noticed on the mainland. Shown here work this summer on Merit’s fiber project. Photo by Kevin Boyle If you’ve been wondering about all the activity around the hardware, its all about the installation of a solar system up on the roof. The installers say it will provide about 70% of the hardware’s power needs when it is finished. Watch out for the crews working on Forest Avenue.
Agathon Solar is at work on Powers Hardware’s roof. Image from Agathon Solar Protests return to Michigan this weekend as the second round of No Kings demonstrations gets underway. The rallies—set for Saturday across the state including one on the Island—target President Trump’s policies as a follow on to June’s march. If you are headed up to the U-P, the Michigan DNR is warning you to be on the look-out for moose on the move. Over 60 have been hit in recent years, mostly in June, September, and October. Officials say a 1,000-pound moose can turn a crash deadly, so heed those “Moose Crossing” signs and drive with care. |
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Now, here’s a look at events happening on your Emerald Isle… First your meeting planner…
On the fun front today… Friday, gets underway with Senior + Vets Coffee + Donuts is on at the BIC Center from 9:00 to 11:00. Also on Friday at 9:00, there’s Chair Strength Training in the Hangout at the BIC Center. There’s Pickleball at 9:00, too, still outside the outdoor courts at Peaine Township Park. [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 B-I-C-S Volley Ball Squad heads to Big Bay for Northern Lights League Tournament play. On the Island, there’s Pickleball outdoors at 9:00. The Artisan’s Market is on out on the Whiskey Point lighthouse lawn starting at 10:00. Fiero Coding club activities are on at the library at 1:00. At 1:30, there’ll be a dedication for the ne Ed Wojan Park on the south end of the Beach parking lot. At 2:00, the no Kings march will start at the Public Beach. Movies are back at the BIC Center. The 3:00 show is Edward Scissorhands, the Tim Burton classic. It’s rated PG-13. At 6:00 it’s a bit of early Halloween fright with Sinners. Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back. It’s rated R. And it’s Prime Rib Night at the Shamrock. And, a reminder, Saturday the 18th will be the last day for large items at the transfer station until spring. SO load ’em up and move ’em out now or plan to keep them for a while. [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 at the 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 is the New Moon, so a super night for star gazing if the clouds clear. Tuesday, there’s Chair Strength Training at the BIC Center at 9:00. Pickleball is outside on the township courts at 9:00. Babes and Toddlers mix it up at the library at 10:00. Wednesday is school picture day. Comb your hair and wear some nice clothes. Als Wednesday, there’s bingo at the BIC Center at 1:00 in the Hangout and Wednesday evening, It’s Time for Art at 5:00 at the BIC Center. This week the session is on Junk Art Assemblage, with Cindy Ricksgers. Use all kinds of nuts, bolts, wire and other materials to turn flattened tin cans into unique humanistic refrigerator magnets, each with a personality of their own. Meantime, up in the hangout the Beaver Island Low Carb group is hosting Crocktober – a shared meal of lowcarb/keto-friendly dishes. Join their Facebook group for more info or just join the at 5:15 in the hangout on Wednesday. Thursday, at 9:00, there’s Pickleball on the Peaine Township Courts. At 10:00, Tai Chi is in the Hangout at the BIC Center and there is Women’s Bible Study at the Christian Church. Thursday evenings are Burger & a Beer Night at the Shamrock, plus Thursday Night is time for Euchre at Whiskey Point Brewery. Cards hit the table at 7:00. |
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NAME OF DAY: The BIC Center Name of the Day is Maxwell. If that’s your name, come on into the BIC Center today to pick out a free drink of your choice. BIRTHDAYS: Debbie Harris, Oliver Kolinski and Dave Sweet are celebrating today. Happy Birthday to Debbie, Dave and Oliver and, if we missed you on the list, Happy Birthday to you 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. But, let’s be careful out there—especially in the school zone. |
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On this date in 1979, personal computers got serious about business — as VisiCalc, the first spreadsheet program, was released for the Apple II. It revolutionized computing, selling about a million copies and inspiring versions for other systems. The day is now celebrated as National Spreadsheet Day.
Screenshot of VisiCalc, the first spreadsheet program. Image from spreadsheet-day.com. |
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is kibosh (noun [KYE-bosh]. It means something that stops or ends something else, as in “to put the kibosh on it.” The word first appeared in the 1830s, possibly borrowed from Irish caidhp bháis (kye phawsh), meaning “cap of death”—the head gear put on by a judge when announcing a death sentence. Its true origin remains a mystery. No matter how it began, it’s been putting the kibosh on things ever since! |
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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 Dr. Mae Jemison, the first African American woman to travel to orbit, who was born on this date in 1956: “Never limit yourself because of others’ limited imagination; never limit others because of your own limited imagination.” |
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On a lighter note…as we get ready for Halloween… What do you call a typo on a headstone? A grave mistake. |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Friday, October 17th, 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, mainly before 8am. High near 66/68. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Tonight Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 57/56. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Saturday Showers and thunderstorms before 11am, then a chance of showers between 11am and 5pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5pm. High near 64/66. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Saturday Night Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 11pm, then showers likely between 11pm and 2am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50/47. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northeast after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Sunday Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58/62. Breezy, with a northwest wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Sunday Night A 30 percent chance of showers before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 47/44. Breezy. Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 60/62. Monday Night Showers likely after 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47/42. Tuesday Showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54/57. Breezy. Tuesday Night Showers, mainly before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43/40. Breezy. Wednesday A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52/55. Breezy. Wednesday Night A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43/39. Thursday A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52/55. |
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Fire Danger Level on the Island set at High. AQI this morning was 0.
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Out on the Big Drink… |
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Today S wind 15 to 20 kt. Showers, mainly before 10am. Waves 2 to 3 ft. Saturday SW wind 10 to 15 kt. Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 10am, then showers likely between 10am and 4pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4pm. Waves 1 to 3 ft. Sunday NNW wind 15 to 25 kt, with gusts as high as 35 kt. Showers likely, mainly before 1pm. Waves 2 to 4 ft. Monday W wind 10 to 15 kt becoming S in the afternoon. Partly sunny. Waves 1 to 2 ft. Tuesday W wind around 20 kt. Showers. Waves 3 to 4 ft. |
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Water Temperature: No report from Little Traverse Bay. The North Lake Michigan buoy southwest of Gull is reporting 61 with three to four foot seas.
Mid Lake Michigan photo at time shown. Provided by NWS |
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Photos from webcams at wvbi.net and mackinacbridge.org |
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Coming up in today’s Community Calendar Report: About 120 Michigan National Guard troops are heading to the southern border for a year-long mission. The Island’s The Juniper housing project makes mainland headlines along with news on Merit’s fiber project— and word on a new Island solar project. Plus, “No Kings” protests return this weekend, and the DNR warns drivers headed to the U-P — slow down for moose on the move! All of those stories plus a look at this date in history, Saturday movies, birthdays, a word of the day and a bad joke…all after a global and national news update from FSN. [timecheck] |
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Today’s featured image: Housing and fiber projects on the Island are getting noticed on the mainland. Shown here work this summer on Merit’s fiber project. Photo by Kevin Boyle |
