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Two days past the deadline, Michigan’s Legislature finally approved a bipartisan, roughly $80 billion state budget. The Senate Appropriations chair—acknowledged deep disagreements with the Republican-led House, saying they “got there,” but “it took too long.” The new budget holds funding steady, bumps K-12 support, cuts some economic development incentives, maintains free school meals, dedicates fuel tax revenue to roads, and counts on $420 million from a new wholesale marijuana tax. Critics warn that tax could cripple Michigan’s legal cannabis industry and faces legal challenge. Senate and House now await Governor Whitmer’s signature. State Representative Parker Fairbairn, who represents our district in the Michigan House, says he’s secured $14 million in ice storm relief for Northern Michigan as part of the state budget. The March storm left widespread damage and communities running out of recovery funds. Fairbairn is pushing a larger $100 million plan—House Bill 4328—that passed the House in April but has stalled in the Senate. He blasted the delay, calling it unacceptable and urging senators to act so relief can reach the 12 affected counties. Most areas in the country hit with such a devastating storm would get immediate state and federal relief, but up north Michigan is still waiting for help more than six months after the storm. Representative Fairbairn speaks on the House floor. Photo from gophouse.org Petoskey has a change in the rail operator with Watco has taking over operations of the Great Lakes Central Railroad, Michigan’s largest regional line. The 400-mile railroad runs from Ann Arbor north through Cadillac, Traverse City and Petoskey, moving about 15,000 cars a year. Watco officials say their first priority is meeting customer needs, but future growth—and possibly even passenger service someday—remains on the table.
WATCO engine at work in a rail yard. Image from WATCO In T-C, the Union Street Dam is gone, and work on Traverse City’s FishPass project is right on schedule. The $25 million effort will replace the dam with a first-of-its-kind barrier that lets native fish pass while blocking invaders like sea lamprey. In-river construction should wrap up in 2026, with an amphitheater and education center finished the next year. Officials say good weather has kept work moving steadily, marking the capstone of a 20-year river restoration effort. In sports, the Detroit Tigers are back in the playoffs and celebrating big after a bit of a rough month. After clinching a postseason berth at Fenway, they topped Cleveland in the Wild Card series, earning a trip to the A-L-D-S against Seattle. |
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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, Senior + Vets Coffee + Donuts is on at the BIC Center from 8:30 to 11:30. 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.] Highlights for the rest of the week include… Saturday, there’s Pickleball outdoors at 9:00. The Artisan’s Market is on for this weekend starting at 10:00 out at Whiskey Point. The Elks Club will hold their annual Poker Run from 1:00 to 4:30. There are 8 stops around the Island to pick up cards. Choose your five best. Entry fee is $50 with proceeds going to the annual Hoop Shoot Project at B-I-C-S. Fiero Coding Club is on at the library at 1:00. At 6:00 at the BIC Center the movie is The Road. It’s part of the library’s Big Read project on survival. You can check out the book to read at the library, too. Both the book and movie are award winners. They tell the story of a father and young son fighting to survive in a post apocalyptic U-S-A. The movie is rated R. [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… On Monday, the wildlife club is sponsoring a Hunter’s Safety Field Day. You need to complete an online class ahead of time. Check with Levi Connor for details and check hunter dash ed dot com slash michigan. 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, there’s a Medicare Information session at the BIC Center at 9:00. It’s enrollment time again, so here’s a chance to learn th the latest and get help in making choices. Also at the BIC Center, there’s Bingo at 1:00 in the Hangout. And, there is BINGO at the G-F-C. Doors open for fellowship at 6:15. Games start at 7:00. There’s no bingo Wednesday evening at the G-F-C, but they are on next week for the final run of the year. 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 Joe. If that’s your name, come on into the BIC Center today to pick out a free drink of your choice. BIRTHDAYS: Ronnie Marsh, Dawn Marsh, Mike Meyers, Ellie Butler, Boston Brown and Regina Howard are our list today. Happy Birthday to Regina, Ellie, Dawn, Boston, Mike and Ron, 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. But, let’s be careful out there—especially in the school zone. |
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On this date in 1980 the movie Somewhere in Time, filmed on Mackinac Island, opens in theaters nationwide. The movie was shot on location at the Grand Hotel, as well as the Mission Point Fine Arts building of the former Mackinac College (now Mission Point Resort). Also on this date in 1942, a new Nazi ‘Wunderwaffen,’ or ‘weapon of wonder,’ is fired in a test flight, and the missile’s top 52.5-mile altitude is so high it becomes the first manmade object to enter outer space. And, on this date in 1990, a nation carved up after a World War and divided with walls in the Cold War is reunited. The once Soviet-controlled East Germany is dissolved and its territory and citizens merged with the Federal Republic of Germany, formerly known as West Germany.
A scene from Somewhere in Time on the porch of the Grand Hotel. Screenshot from the movie Somewhere in Time |
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is gibbous (adjective) [JIB-us], an adjective that is most often used to describe the moon or a planet when it is seen with more than half but not all of the apparent disk illuminated. Gibbous, spelled g-i-b-b-o-u-s has its origins in the Latin noun gibbus [GHEEB-boos], meaning “hump.” It was adopted into Middle English to describe rounded, convex things. While it has been used to describe the rounded body parts of humans and animals (such as the back of a camel) and to describe the shape of certain flowers (such as snapdragons) and sometimes planets, the term is most often used to describe the moon when it is between half and full. |
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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 Somewhere in Time star Christopher Reeve: “If we don’t dream of the possible, the possible never happens.” |
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On a lighter note… What money do they use on Superman’s home world? Kryptocurrency. |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Friday, October 3rd, 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 slight chance of showers between 8am and 5pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 69/75. Southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Tonight A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 60/56. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 71/78. South wind around 10 mph. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 63/53. South wind around 15 mph. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 72/76. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Sunday Night A 40 percent chance of showers after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 57/53. Breezy. Monday A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65/68. Monday Night A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51/48. Tuesday Partly sunny, with a high near 62/65. Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 45/42. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 55/58. Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 45/42. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 59/62. |
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Fire Danger Level on the Island set at Moderate. AQI this morning was 17.
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Out on the Big Drink… |
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Today SW wind 5 to 10 kt. A chance of showers, mainly after 4pm. Waves 1 ft or less. Tonight Saturday SSW wind around 10 kt. Sunny. Waves around 1 ft. Sunday SSW wind around 15 kt, with gusts as high as 25 kt. Sunny. Waves around 2 ft. Monday W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming NNW in the afternoon. A chance of showers. Waves 1 to 3 ft. Tuesday NNE wind 5 to 10 kt becoming WNW in the afternoon. A chance of showers. Waves 1 ft or less. |
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Water Temperature: It’s 62 in Little Traverse Bay. The North Lake Michigan buoy southwest of Gull is reporting 64 with two-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: Lawmakes in Lansing finally pass a late state budget, and Northern Michigan could see $14 million in ice storm relief. Plus—new management for a local railroad, FishPass progress in Traverse City, and the Tigers move on in the playoffs. All of those stories plus a look at this Somewhere in Time date in history, weekend fun, 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: Somewhere in time Christopher Reeves was on the Grand Porch at the Grand Hotel. Screenshot from the movie Somewhere in Time |
