|
|
|
The Michigan Department of Transportation is running a survey on traffic concerns on U-S 31 in Charlevoix. Some are advocating for a traffic light at the exit from the Charlevoix Airport. They say heavier traffic and changes to traffic patterns in Charlevoix make it necessary to keep things safe. Others say it would create additional congestion. There’s a link to the survey in today’s script online. A Michigan Court of Claims judge has overturned Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s guidance on flawed absentee ballots, ruling that ballots with missing or mismatched stub numbers cannot be counted unless voters fix the error. Republicans sued over election integrity concerns. Benson’s office calls the decision voter suppression. The Island has been busy with holiday events. Friday saw a full house turnout for the Historical Society’s Holiday Social. There were a multitude of specially decorated Christmas trees, and endless supply of hearty food and treats, a hot cocoa bar, silent auctions, gift shop specials and lots of fun with about 200 people in attendance. Tunes took home honors for the best decorated tree as voted by attendees. The local trive tree was next followed by the BeaverHead Lighthouse volunteers tree.
It was a full house at the Print Shop Friday night. Photo by Keith Brothers Saturday evening the BIC Center stage was alive with Christmas music for Home for the Holidays: An Island Community Christmas, also with a packed house. Earlier, the community turned out in force to light the Community Christmas Tree and before that Santa paid a visit to the BIC Center.
Home for the Holidays: An Island Community Christmas was at the BIC Center Saturday evening. Screen capture from BIC Center video post on Facebook On Sunday there was another full house for the Christmas Cantata, this year broadcast live on video using the newly installed video system at the Church. The 2025 Christmas Cantata was broadcast live using the Christian Church’s new video system. Image from BICC video feed Beaver Island Veterinary Services has a vet coming at the end of the week. Dr. Felster will be here starting Friday through Next Monday. Call 2572 to get an appointment. The Queen of Hearts remains in Hiding at the Elks Lodge. Mike Cherry won the draw Saturday, but picked the three of spades. The pot is now over 61-thousand dollars.
The Queen of Hearts continues to hide. Image from Elks Facebook post |
|
Now, here’s a look at events happening on your Emerald Isle… First your meeting planner… A-A meets Saturday at 6:00. Next week, School Board meets Monday evening at 6:30. Transportation Authority meets Tuesday at noon. St. James Board meets Wednesday at 5:30. That’s it on the meeting front through the end of next week. On the fun front today… Monday is all you can eat pizza and salad night at the Shamrock. And, preorders are due for the Christmas Cookie Carnival. Order sheets are available at the Christian Church, the BIC Center, the Market and Island Energies. In the early morning hours of Tuesday and Wednesday, the waning gibbous moon will be near the bright star Regulus, the brightest star in Leo the Lion. Regulus is the period at the bottom of a backward question mark pattern of stars known as the Sickle. There’s a star map at dark sky island dot org. Tuesday, there’s Pickleball at the BIC Center at 10:00, and Babes and Toddlers mix it up over at the library at 10:00. And in the Hang Out at the BIC Center, there’s Chair Strength Training at 10:30. Tuesday evening it’s time to Get Quizzical. It’s the Beaver Island trivia game. The fun gets underway at 6:00. Sign your team up at tickets dot bic center dot org. Wednesday, there’s bingo at the BIC Center at 1:00 in the Hangout. At 2:00, Little Ceasar Pizza kits will be ready for pick-up at school. And, Wednesday evening, It’s Time for Art at 5:00 at the BIC Center. This week it’s making Christmas Post Cards and Gift Tags with printmaking and stencil techniques. Thursday, at 10:00, there’s pickleball in the theater and Tai Chi is in the Hangout both 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. Friday gets underway with Senior + Vets Coffee + Donuts is on at the BIC Center from 9:00 to 11:00. Pickleball is at 10:00 in the Theater and Chair Strength Training is up in the Hangout at 10:30. And, over at school, the annual Great Lakes Islands Basketball Tournament gets underway with teams from our fellow islands all headed here for action that will run through Saturday. [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.] On Saturday, the Fiero Code Club is on at the library at 1:00 with a new program alongside it called Girls that Code for girls in grades 3-12. At the BIC Center Saturday, movies are back as part of the library’s Big Read Survival Series. The 3:00 show is Lost on a Mountain in Maine. It’s rated PG. And at 6:00, it’s Arctic rated PG-13. [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 Christian Church at 10:00 and mass at Holy Cross at 12:15. Looking ahead to highlights for next week… Wednesday evening it’s a Candlelit Christmas with the NoMi String Collective at the BIC Center. There’s no charge for admission, but you do need to reserve a seat at tickets dot bic center dot org. Showtime is 6:00 p.m. Thursday, the TUNES Holiday concert is at the BIC Center at 7:00 p.m. Friday is the last boat of the season. |
|
NAME OF DAY: Today’s BIC Center Name of the Day is Pamela. If that’s your name, come into the BIC Center to pick out a free drink of your choice, courtesy of your friends at the BIC Center and WVBI. BIRTHDAYS: Pam O’Brien, Norrah Scheller and Chris Harris are on our list today. Happy Birthday to Chris, Norrah and Pam and, if we missed you on the list, Happy Birthday to you too from everyone at WVBI and your Beaver Island Community Center. |
|
TRAFFIC: No delays inbound or outbound to the airports. The Island Beltway is running smoothly and there are no bridge delays. But, the roads are super slick with yet another fresh coat of snow so, let’s be careful out there, especially in the school zone. |
|
On this date in 1980, former Beatle John Lennon, just 40 years old, is shot and killed outside his New York City apartment as he returns home with his wife, Yoko Ono. Shocked fans hold a week-long vigil at the scene. Five years later, on what would have been Lennon’s 45th birthday, Ono dedicates the Strawberry Fields memorial in Central Park.
Press photo of John Lennon from 1974. Photo from commons.wikimedia.org |
|
Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is bravado (noun) [bruh-VAH-doh]. It means bold, confident talk or behavior meant to impress others. Sometimes it’s daring and show-offish, like a stunt performer — and other times it can sound arrogant, especially when it comes from power. The word traces back to the Italian bravo, meaning courageous. |
|
Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Monday… |
|
Here’s a thought for the day from John Lennon: “Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.” |
|
On a lighter note… Why do birds fly south for Christmas? Because it’s too far to walk. |
|
That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Monday, December 8th, 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. |
|
### |
|
Today Snow showers likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 29. West wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible. Tonight-Winter Weather Advisory Snow showers, mainly before 1am, then snow after 1am. The snow could be heavy at times. Temperature rising to around 33 by 4am. Windy, with a south wind 20 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of around 4 inches. Tuesday- Winter Weather Advisory Snow likely before 10am, then snow showers likely, mainly between 10am and 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 32. Breezy, with a west wind 20 to 25 mph decreasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible. Tuesday Night Scattered snow showers before 1am, then snow likely after 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 24. West wind 10 to 15 mph becoming east after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible. Wednesday A 40 percent chance of snow, mainly before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 31. Blustery, with a north wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 21. Blustery. Thursday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 28. Thursday Night A chance of snow showers after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. Friday Snow showers likely, mainly after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 27. Blustery. Friday Night Snow showers likely, mainly before 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 16. Blustery. Saturday A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 25. Blustery. Saturday Night A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. Sunday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 26. |
|
Air Quality Index this morning was 6. |
|
|
|
Out on the Big Drink… |
|
Today W wind 10 to 15 kt becoming SSW in the afternoon. A chance of snow, mainly after 5pm. Waves 1 ft or less building to 3 ft. Tuesday W wind 20 to 25 kt decreasing to 10 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Snow, mainly before noon. Waves 7 ft subsiding to 2 ft. Wednesday NNE wind around 20 kt becoming NNW in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 kt. A chance of snow. Waves 3 to 4 ft. |
|
Photos from webcams at wvbi.net and mackinacbridge.org |
|
Coming up in our Community Calendar Report… MDOT wants your input on traffic safety along U.S. 31 in Charlevoix, including whether a new traffic light is needed at the airport. A state judge overturns new guidelines on flawed absentee ballots. Plus, a packed weekend of Island holiday events, from the Holiday Social to Christmas concerts and the Cantata. Also, a visiting vet arrives later this week — and the Queen of Hearts jackpot climbs past sixty-one thousand dollars. All of those stories plus a run-down of local events, birthdays and more all after this global and national news update from F-S-N. It’s [timecheck]. |
|
Today’s featured image: The 2025 Christmas Cantata was broadcast live using the Christian Church’s new video system. Image from BICC video feed |
