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Drone photo of Sand Bay by Greg Doig
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First some news…
The Dark Sky Festival continues through the end of this week with numerous events each day.
An F-16 fighter jet crashed and burst into flames in Grawn, Michigan (just outside of Traverse City), after a pilot ejected Thursday afternoon. Local resident Benjamin Vyverberg used his phone’s GPS to help dispatchers locate the pilot, who was found in a field with an orange parachute, and he complained of lower spine pain. The pilot was transported to a hospital, and nearby residents were briefly evacuated while authorities secured the site. The military plane , a F-16 out of Texas, was reportedly on a routine training mission from the Air National Guard’s Combat Readiness Training Center in Alpena when it crashed. The evacuation around the crash scene in Grand Traverse County was lifted Thursday evening.
Charles Hudson Butcher III, 73, of Petoskey, has been arrested and charged with open murder following a fatal shooting in Bear Creek Township on September 17.
The victim, 66-year-old Steven Michael Krussel of Petoskey, died after deputies were dispatched to the scene at 11:12 a.m.
The Emmet County Sheriff’s Office has secured the area and confirmed there is no ongoing threat to the public while the investigation continues.
Today is national cheeseburger day.
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Now here’s a look at upcoming events on your Emerald Isle…
First your meeting planner…
A-A meets Saturday at 6:00.
…and that is it for the week. Locations and more details are in the calendar entries online.
On the fun front today…
Friday, there’s Senior and Vets Coffee and Donuts from 8:30 to 10:30 in the Welcome Center at the BIC Center. At 9:00 A-M Pickleball Outdoors on the Peaine Township courts. Back at the BIC Center at 9:30, there’s Chair Strength Training up in the Hangout. At 2:00, the Dark Sky Festival has a final Solar Telescope Viewing at the Shamrock. Then at 4:00 in the theater at the BIC Center, learn about fun places to view via telescope on the Moon. At 7:00, there’s a short hike at Little Sand Bay with a presentation about observing the changes in the sky as day turns to night…or Dusking. Then at the Retreat at 9:00, learn the basics of night sky photography as you enjoy the field of stars overhead. Also, Friday evening at B-I-C-S, the Islander volleyball and soccer squads take on Big Bay De Noc in games starting at 5:00.
[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 Islanders take on Big Bay De Noc in volleyball and soccer matches at school. The Artisan’s Market is on at the Point starting at 10:00. At 5:00, the Dark Sky Festival wraps up with a session on the importance of dark skies to bird migration. Saturday nights are Prime Rib Night at the Shamrock. And there’s Pickleball outside starting at 7:00 on the township courts.
[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, there are services at the Episcopal Mission at 9:00 and at the Christian Church at 10:00. Mass is at Holy Cross at 12:15.
And the Amik Cultural Center is open 1 to 3 PM.
Looking ahead to highlights for next week…
Monday, there’s Summer Gentle Flow Yoga in the theater at the BIC Center at 9:30. COA has Cardio Drumming at 10:00 and Art Therapy at 11:00 at Peaine Township Hall. At 11:00, the Senior Digital Café at the library has a session on Canva, a powerful but easy to use graphic design program. Use it to make a great poster or custom card. Also at 11:00, Summer Chair Yoga in the Hangout at the BIC Center, and at 5:00 Monday Funday at the BIC Center is an Artist Workshop on Needle Felting. And, don’t forget, Monday evenings are All You Can Eat Pizza and Salad night at the Beachcomber.
Tuesday. at 9:00 there is Pickleball on the Peaine Township Courts. At 9:30, there’s Chair Strength Training up in the Hangout at the BIC Center. C-O-A has COA Cardio Drumming at 10:00 and Art Therapy at 11:00 at Peaine Township Hall. Also, at 10:00, Babes & Toddlers mix it up at the library. And, at 8:05m P-M, the sun will pass above the Earth’s equator marking the Fall Equinox.
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Those are the highlights. Find a full listing of events at calendar dot W-V-B-I dot net.
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Today’s BIC Center Name of the Day is Paula and tomorrow is Randy. If that’s your name, come on down to the BIC Center today to pick out a free drink of your choice.
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On our Birthday List: Friday Mary Palmer and Addie Perdue Saturday Colt Maudrie, Gavin McNeil, and Don Langford Sunday Laila Coffell are celebrating. Happy Birthday to Mary, Addie, Colt, Gavin, Don and Laila, 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. But it is busy in town when the ferries arrive and there are lots of folks out hiking and biking, and Star Gazing as the Dark Sky Festival gets underway. So, let’s be careful out there.
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On this date in 1975 Patty Hearst was arrested by the FBI in San Francisco, ending a 19-month search following her kidnapping and subsequent involvement with the Symbionese Liberation Army.
Hearst, who had been a fugitive since her abduction in 1974, was taken into custody alongside fellow SLA members Wendy Yoshimura, William Harris, and Emily Harris.
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is the adjective Churlish is a formal word used to describe someone or something that is impolite or rude.
// I was shocked by the churlish remarks made by my opponent.
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Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Friday…
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And on a lighter note…One of my drill sergeants paraphrased Mark Twain when a recruit said he couldn’t do anymore pushups., The drill sergeant said, it’s all mind over matter. I don’t mind and you don’t matter.
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Friday, September 18th,2026. I’m Greg Doig 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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WEATHER
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Friday
Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 64. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. Southeast wind around 10 mph.
Saturday
Partly sunny, with a high near 66. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph.
Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 65.
Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52.
Monday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60.
Monday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 51.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 63.
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 55.
Thursday
Partly sunny, with a high near 66.
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Air Quality Index this morning was 9.
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Fire Danger: High
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Out on the Big Drink…
 Photo from the North Lake Michigan Buoy. Provided by the National Data Buoy Center
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Friday
NE wind 5 to 10 kt. Partly sunny. Waves 1 ft or less.
Friday Night
E wind around 10 kt becoming SE after midnight. A slight chance of showers after 1am. Waves 1 ft or less.
Saturday
ESE wind 5 to 10 kt. Partly sunny. Waves 1 ft or less.
Saturday Night
E wind 5 to 10 kt. Mostly cloudy. Waves 1 ft or less.
Sunday
NNE wind around 10 kt. Mostly sunny. Waves around 1 ft.
Sunday Night
NNE wind 10 to 15 kt becoming E after midnight. Mostly cloudy. Waves 1 to 2 ft.
Monday
ENE wind around 15 kt. Mostly cloudy. Waves 1 to 2 ft.
Monday Night
E wind 10 to 15 kt. Partly cloudy. Waves around 1 ft.
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Water Temps: 65 at the mid-lake buoy southwest of Gull Island. 64 in the Straits. 67 at Sleeping Bear and 69 in Little Traverse Bay.
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 Photos from webcams at wvbi.net and mackinacbridge.org
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Coming up in our Community Calendar Report…
[Time check.]
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Community Calendar Report for Friday, September 18th, 2026
