Community Calendar Report for Memorial Day, Monday, May 25th, 2026


Two days of gray weather didn’t stop birders from getting out for Warblers on the Water filed trips yesterday and Saturday…at least not for trips on land. The blow on Saturday did result in the cancelation of planed trips to Garden Island and out in kayaks on Lake G. Warblers lead Cheryl Kern says that folks stuck with the trips on the Island even thought it was chilly and breezy for most of them. Plans are already underway for next year. Meantime, the BIC Center Golf Tournament drew good participation as well, again despite less-than-ideal weather on the course. Nine teams competed for the bragging rights (and some neat cutting board trophies) with the team of Chuck Pop, Rob McPhersen, Tim Gerace, Steve Catchman, and Jeff Humphries winning the day. Tournament master Kevin Stipp thanks everyone who supported the BIC Center through their play, sponsorship or both. And, there was a full house crowd Saturday night for the Is Everyone Happy Party at the Hall. The evening featured music from TUNES students, great food provided by the community, dancing and a good time for all. In other island news, the Michigan House has approved legislation giving Mackinac Island authority over ferry service rates to the Island, including ticket prices, parking, and baggage fees. The bill now heads to Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Supporters say the move is needed to regulate what the Island calls a ferry monopoly, while opponents in St. Ignace and Mackinaw City argue it gives Mackinac Island too much control over businesses in their communities. The Lake Carriers’ Association says inadequate icebreaking by the United States Coast Guard caused Great Lakes shipping companies to lose nearly a third of this year’s shipping season. Industry leaders say delayed icebreaking stranded vessels for days and disrupted delivery of iron ore and other cargo critical to the national economy. Federal lawmakers in Washington continue pushing for funding for a new heavy icebreaker for the Great Lakes. In our signs of summer department, the Toy Museum & Store will be open today from 11 to 4. Regular hours will be 1 to 4 through the end of June and the 11 to 4 starting July1. Don’t forget about the ceremony this morning at Veterans Memorial Park. It starts at 11:00 with vets treated to lunch at the Elks Lodge afterwards.
Now here’s a look at other upcoming events on your Emerald Isle… First your meeting planner… A-A meets Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday same time. Joint Telecommunications Advisory Committee meets Thursday at 4:30. Locations and more details are in the calendar entries online. On the fun front… Today is Memorial Day. Open Hands has breakfast at the GFC from 8:00 to 11:00. COA has Cardio Drumming at 10:00 and Art Therapy at 11:00 at Peaine Township Hall. The AMVETS will hold a memorial ceremony at 11:00 at Veterans Memorial Park. The Beachcomber has All You Can Eat Pizza and Salad night. The BIC Center is closed for the holiday. Tuesday at 9:30, there’s Chair Strength Training up in the Hangout at the BIC Center. At 10:00, Babes & Toddlers mix it up at the library and there is Pickleball outside on the township courts. At 2:15 there’s a Home School Meet-up at the library. Wednesday, the Open Hands Café: Breakfast Club runs 8:00 until 10:00 a.m. at Gregg Fellowship Center. At 1:00, there’s Seniors BINGO at the BIC Center. And at 2:00, there’s an awards ceremony for secondary students at school. Thursday, the COA has a double feature at Peaine Twp Hall — Cardio Drumming at 10:00 and Art Therapy at 11:00. Meanwhile, there’s Women’s Bible Study at 10:00 a.m. at the BI Christian Church and at 10:30, there’s Senior Tai Chi at the BIC Center. And, Thursday evening is Burger and a Beer Night at the Shamrock. [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, there’s Senior and Vets Coffee and Donuts from 9:00 to 11:00 in the Welcome Center at the BIC Center, plus Chair Strength Training up in the Hangout at 9:30. And, the library has afterschool board game fun starting at 3:30. [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, Fiero Code Club is at the library at 1:00. It’s 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, there are services at the Episcopal Missiojn at 9:00 and at the Christian Church at 10:00. Mass is at Holy Cross at 12:15. Looking ahead to highlights* for next week…*
No name of the day today because the BIC Center is closed in observance of Memorial Day.
On our Birthday List: Mathew Cull is celebrating today. Hasppy Birthday to Mathew and, if we missed you on the list, Happy Birthday to you too from everyone at the BIC Center and WVBI.
TRAFFIC: No delays inbound or outbound to the airports. The Island Beltway is running smoothly save for occasional culvert digging delays on East Side Drive. There are no bridge delays. But, hey, let’s be careful out there. B-I-C-S kids are out doing Island clean-up, the construction crews need room, and the start of summer busyness is upon us.
On this date in history in 1868, on May 30th the first national observance of what will become Memorial Day begins. Communities gather to place flowers and flags on the graves of fallen soldiers on what they then call Decoration Day. Over time, the holiday expanded to honor all Americans lost in military service. In 1971, Congress officially renamed it Memorial Day and set its observance as the last Monday in May. Also, on this day in 1977, what will come to be known as Star Wars Episode IV is released in just 32 theaters. It goes on to do fairly well. Beaver Island’s Veterans Memorial Park helps mark Memorial Day on the Island. Photo by Kevin Boyle
Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is sacrosanct (adjective) [SAK-roh-sankt]. Something described as sacrosanct is considered too important or respected to be changed or criticized. The word comes from Latin roots meaning “made holy.” Over time, its meaning broadened from something literally sacred to anything treated as untouchable or beyond debate.
Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Memorial Day…
Here’s a thought for this Memorial Day from President Abraham Lincoln’s remarks at Gettysburg: “It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.”
On a lighter note… Why did the chicken go to the Memorial Day cookout? To see the other side of the grill!
That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Memorial Day, Monday, May 25th, 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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WEATHER
[Current Condition Report, then…]
Memorial Day A 10 percent chance of showers after 5pm. Areas of dense fog before 11am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 60/72. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Tonight A 10 percent chance of showers before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 61/73. Southwest wind around 15 mph. Tuesday Night Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 47. West wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 66/79. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 47. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 63/75. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 46. Friday Sunny, with a high near 58/67. Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 46. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 63/68. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 48. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 66/71.

Air Quality Index at 6:30 was 64.
Out on the Big Drink…
Memorial Day SW wind around 10 kt. A slight chance of showers after 4pm. Widespread dense fog, mainly before 8am. Waves 1 ft or less. SW wind 10 to 15 kt. Sunny. Waves 2 to 4 ft. Wednesday N wind 5 to 10 kt. Sunny. Waves 1 ft or less.
Photos from webcams at wvbi.net and mackinacbridge.org
Coming up in our Community Calendar Report… Despite chilly weather, Islanders packed the weekend with activity — from Warblers on the Water and the BIC Center Golf Tournament to a full house at Saturday night’s Is Everyone Happy Party. We’ll also have the latest on Mackinac Island’s ferry fight, Great Lakes shipping delays, and today’s Memorial Day ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park. …details on those stories plus a run-down of local events, birthdays and more after global and national news from F-S-N. [Time check.]
Today’s featured image: Beaver Island’s Veterans Memorial Park helps mark Memorial Day on the Island. Photo by Kevin Boyle

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