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Election day is tomorrow with voters going to the polls to pick party nominees and decide some millage proposals. There are no contested township offices in either Peaine or St. James Township, so no township primary races will be decided. Instead, Island voters will cast ballots in the statewide primary for governor, U.S. Senate, Congress, state Senate and state House, choosing nominees from their preferred political party for November’s general election.
In the 37th State Senate District, Republican incumbent John Damoose is unopposed, while Democrats will choose between Kate Gallup and Mitchell Treadwell to advance to November. For the 107th House District, Republican Parker Fairbairn also has no primary opponent, while Democrats will nominate either Melissa Perron or Brendan Ryan. The governor’s race features Republicans John James and Perry Johnson, while Democrats will choose between Jocelyn Benson and Chris Swanson. In the U.S. Senate race, Republicans have Mike Rogers unopposed, while Democrats will select Abdul El-Sayed or Haley Stevens. And, as we’ve reported over the past week, voters in the First Congressional District will also decide crowded Republican and Democratic primaries for Michigan’s U.S. House seat.
Island voters will decide several local millage proposals. In Peaine Township, voters are being asked to renew millages for the township airport and emergency medical services, along with two road proposals aimed at maintaining and improving township roads. Island voters will also decide a Beaver Island District Library millage proposal. St. James Township has no township-specific millage requests on the ballot, but voters there, like those in Peaine, will weigh the library proposal as well as four countywide questions: renewals for Charlevoix County Transit, county parks and veterans services, plus a proposal to continue the county’s separate tax limitation. Polls are open tomorrow from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. There are sample ballots for both townships linked in today’s script online. Note that they include some candidates who have dropped out of the race since the proof ballots were printed in June. #Election 2026
If you are headed to the Wild Strawberry Café to pour over those choices, you’ll want to know they are winding down summer hours with seasonal employees already headed back to school activities. Starting today they are open Monday to Thursday 8:00 to 2:00 and Friday to Sunday 7:00 to 2:00 with a Happy Hour all days from 2:00 to 4:00. #Local News |
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Now here’s a look at upcoming events on your Emerald Isle…
First your meeting planner…
A-A meets Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 6:00 at the Christian Church. No other meetings on the schedule this week.
On the fun front today…
Monday, at 9:30, summer yoga is on at the BIC Center. It’ll be a session on Basic Flow. COA has Cardio Drumming at 10:00 and Art Therapy at 11:00 at Peaine Township Hall. At 11:00, there’s Summer Therapeutic Chair Yoga at the BIC Center. Baroque on Beaver events continue with Brass on the Grass out at Whiskey Point. Bring a chair and something to enjoy with music from the Great American Songbook. Then at 7:30, get a taste of the latest in classical music with New & Next on stage at the BIC Center. Brass on the Grass is a free-will donation event. Tickets for New & Next are at tickets dot bic center dot org. 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. At 10:00, Babes & Toddlers mix it up at the library. Baroque on Beaver continues with Chamber Music Waterside at the C-M-U Biological Station. Tickets are at tickets dot bic center dot org.
Highlights for the rest of the week include…
Wednesday, there’s Summer Restorative Yoga BIC Center at 9:30. At 10:00 there’s American Mah Jongg at the BIC Center in the Hangout, and at 1:00 there is Afternoon Bingo. Also at 1:00, Baroque on Beaver continues with Music al Fresco at the Beaver Island Gallery featuring the Donegal Bay Winds. At 3:00, Whiskey Point Brewing Company comes alive with jazz with the St. James Jazz Ensemble playing there a spart of Baroque. And at 7:30 it’s the Baroque on Beaver Founders Concert at the Biological Station featuring Vox G-R. Chamber Music al Fresco is open to all with a free-will donation. Tickets are necessary for the St. James Jazz Ensemble and Vox G-R. Get them and make donations at tickets dot bic center dot org. If amidst all the music you’d like to learn about the island’s history, Protar’s House will be open from 1:00 to 4:00, and at 4:00 the Amik Cultural Preservation Center will be open.
Thursday, there’s Pickleball at Peaine Township Park at 9:00. 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. Baroque events continue Thursday evening at 7:30 with The Baroque on Beaver Orchestra taking the BIC Center stage for an evening of orchestral masterworks including Mendelssohn’s beloved Symphony No. 4 Italian, Bach’s Orchestra Suite No. 3 and Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C Major featuring Young Soloist Competition winner Bhargava Kulkarni. And, Thursday evenings are Burger and a Beer Night at the Shamrock.
Friday, there’s Senior and Vets Coffee and Donuts from 8:30 to 10:30 in the Welcome Center at the BIC Center, plus Chair Strength Training up in the Hangout at 9:30. Also at 9:30, there’s Summer Yoga in the Theater. And at 10:00 A-M Pickleball Outdoors on the Peaine Township courts.
[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 Artisan’s Market is on at the Point starting at 10:00. A celebration of the life of James Allan Cull is set for 2 p.m. at Holy Cross Cemetery. There’ll be a memorial ride to the Point, a graveside service, and a final toast at Angeline’s Bluff. Saturday night, Baroque on Beaver closes the festival season with an unforgettable evening of opera favorites, featuring beloved arias and dramatic scenes introduced by the Island’s own Peter Amster. Following the performance, raise a celebratory glass as to honor Maestro Robert Nordling and celebrate his passing of the baton to Nathan Bieber for the next chapter of Baroque on Beaver. Showtime is 7:30. Tickets are at tickets dot bic center dot org. And Saturday nights are 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 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…
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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 Thomas. If that’s your name, come on in to the BIC Center today to pick out a free drink of your choice. |
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On our Birthday List today is Darlene Dooley. Happy Birthday to Darlene, 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 with no bridge delays. It is still busy in town when the ferries arrive, and lots of bikers, hikers and musicians hurrying to practices or performances, so let’s be careful out there. |
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On this date in 1776, General George Washington is strengthening defenses around New York City while thousands of British troops and warships gather nearby. Just weeks after the Declaration of Independence, both sides are preparing for what becomes the largest military campaign of the Revolutionary War. Also today, in 1921, Canadian researcher Frederick Banting and medical student Charles Best successfully isolate insulin at the University of Toronto. Their breakthrough soon transforms diabetes from a disease that is often fatal into one that millions of people are able to manage.
Insulin discoverers Charles Best and Frederick Banting in 1924. Photos from Wikimedia |
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is parochial (adjective) [puh-ROH-kee-ul]. If something is parochial, it has a narrow or limited outlook, often focused only on local concerns while overlooking the bigger picture. The word originally referred to a church parish, but today it’s more often used to describe a mindset, but can still refer to a church affiliated school. |
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Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Monday… |
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Here’s a thought for the day from English comedian Jasper Carrott: “Laughter is the best medicine – unless you’re diabetic, then insulin comes pretty high on the list.” |
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On a lighter note… Why is sugar so good at poker? It knows how to bluff its levels. |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Monday, July 27th, 2026. 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 today the best day ever? And thanks for listening. |
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WEATHER |
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[Current Condition Report, then…] |
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Today A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 11am. Widespread fog, mainly before 8am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 71 at the beach and 78 in the woods. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Tonight A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, then a slight chance of showers between 11pm and 2am. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 63. North wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 73/76. North wind around 15 mph. Tuesday Night Clear, with a low around 61. North wind 10 to 15 mph. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 72/77. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 65. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 74/79. Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. Friday Partly sunny, with a high near 75/78. Friday Night A chance of showers before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Saturday Partly sunny, with a high near 76/79. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 76/78. |
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Air Quality Index at 7:15am was 94. |
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Fire Danger: Moderate |
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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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Today SSW wind 5 to 10 kt becoming NW in the afternoon. Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 3pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4pm. Patchy fog. Waves around 1 ft. Tonight N wind 10 to 15 kt. Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 8pm. Waves 1 to 2 ft. Tuesday N wind 10 to 20 kt, with gusts as high as 25 kt. Sunny. Waves 2 to 3 ft. Tuesday Night N wind 10 to 15 kt. Clear. Waves 1 to 2 ft. Wednesday NNE wind 5 to 10 kt becoming W in the afternoon. Sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. Wednesday Night Variable winds 5 kt or less. Mostly clear. Waves 1 ft or less. Thursday Variable winds 5 kt or less. Sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. Thursday Night Variable winds 5 kt or less. Partly cloudy. Waves 1 ft or less. Friday SSW wind 5 to 10 kt becoming W in the afternoon. Mostly cloudy. Waves 1 ft or less. |
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Water Temps: 65 at the mid-lake buoy southwest of Gull Island. 70 at Sleeping Bear and in Little Traverse Bay. 68 in the Straits |
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Coming up in our Community Calendar Report…
Tomorrow is Election Day, and we’ll have a look at what’s on the ballot you will see when you head to the polls—from the primary races for governor, U.S. Senate and the Legislature to the local millage proposals that could affect roads, EMS, the airport, the library and county services.
That full rundown more local news, a run-down of local events including everything Baroque, birthdays and more after this global and national news from F-S-N. [Time check.] |
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Today’s featured image: A fairly foggy (or is that haze) morning at a fairly full Marina North on the Island. Webcam image capture from Beaver Island Marinas |
