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Although winter is officially over, Islanders awoke this morning to a fresh blanket of wet snow…up to four or more inches in some places. That’s delayed the opening of the library until noon and school is closed, though that is because it is spring break. The late snow also hit the mainland adding to what’s been an above average year for snowfall in many up north locations. Despite the warm start, this has been the fourth snowiest winter on record in TC with more than 140 inches on record before the Sunday night additions. All the snow has some ski resorts in a competition over staying open the latest. Some are now saying they will be open through Memorial Day. Nearly $800 million in opioid settlement funds are flowing into Michigan — but some northern counties, like Cheboygan, Emmet, Otsego and Charlevoix are still figuring out how to spend it. Officials say they’re forming task forces and gathering data to understand local addiction trends. Emmet County used $25,000 to fund a community needs assessment. The money comes from major opioid companies settling lawsuits over their role in the overdose crisis. Some local leaders say they hope to start funding solutions by summer, though so far there is no word on plans in Charlevoix. In Lansing, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is once again taking on President Trump, joining six multistate lawsuits since his return to office. Nessel says she’s focused on blocking policies she views as unconstitutional or harmful to Michigan, including cuts to education and federal jobs. Critics, including former GOP attorneys general, accuse her of politicizing the office. But Nessel says she’s protecting Michiganders — and estimates the lawsuits have cost just $2,400 while preventing billions in potential losses. On the Island, the B-I-C-S robotics team is preparing for their final district event next weekend. B-I-robot will be compete at Ferris State University in Big Rapids March 27th to the 29th. Want to support our Beaver Island robotics superstars? Head over to birobot.org where you can become a sponsor or grab some cool team merch! And if you can’t make it to the events in person, no worries – you can follow all the action and watch livestreams on TheBlueAlliance.com.] |
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Now, here’s a look at events happening on your Emerald Isle… First your meeting planner for the week… A-A meets Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 6:00. That’s it on the meeting front. More details are in the calendar entries online. On the fun front today… Monday, Cardio Drumming is at 10:00 in the theater at the BIC Center. Then at 5:00, there’s Qigong Practice. And at 7:00 at the library, Native American story teller JoAnne Cook will share stories with those seeking to understand the Native American way of life. Tuesday, Talking Threads is on at Peaine Township Hall at 9:30. Babes and Todlers mix it up at the library at 10:00. There’s Pickleball at 10:00 in the theater at the BIC Center and the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program at 10:30 in the Hangout followed by Senior Tai Chi at 11:30. At noon, there’s Spring Break Kids Week Teen Trivia up in the Hangout with prizes, snacks and lots of fun. It’s Story Time at the library at 2:30 and the Improv Workshiop is on at 5:00 at the BIC Center. Highlights for early next week include… Wednesday C-O-A BINGO is at the BIC Center at 1 PM. Time for Art at the BIC Center also at 5:00. This week its Tie Dye time. Catherine and Joel Meintsma have will share their talents with this very popular art-form. Medical First Responder Class begins at 7 PM. Thursday, Cardio Drumming starts at 10 AM at the BIC Center, but no Pickleball today because of Spring Break activities in the theater. Women’s Bible Study meets at the Christian Church at the same time. Chair Yoga begins at 11 AM at the BIC Center. There’s a Games Galore Pizza party at 1:00 on the Theater. And this isn’t just any pizza party. It’s See No, Hear No, Speak No Pizza Making Game, where teams of three work together to make the prettiest pizza. Kids can then enjoy their creation while they play other games including Ping Pong, Basketball hoop shoot, cornhole, Mario Kart, and more! In the evening, enjoy Burger & a Beer at the Shamrock at 5 PM and Euchre Night at WPBC at 7, and there’s another session of the Medical First Responder Class at the School at 7. Friday, seniors and veterans can enjoy Coffee & Donuts at the BIC Center starting at 9 AM. Pickleball is back at 10 at the BIC Center, and the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program meets again at 10:30. [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 Fiero Code Club is at the Library at 2 PM. Then it’s movie day at the BIC Center with a double feature. At 3 PM, catch Sonic the Hedgehog 3 with non-stop snark and action as our heroes join forces in an unlikely alliance to take on a new villain. Rated PG. At 6:00, it’s A Complete Unknown, the award winning docudrama about Bob Dylan. It’s rated R. Saturday evening, it’s Prime Rib Night at the Shamrock. And, in our Dark Skies, the moon will be new tonight, so if the clouds stay away. [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 brings folks together for worship, with services at the Christian Church at 10:00 and Mass at Holy Cross at 12:15. Looking ahead to next week… |
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NAME OF DAY: The BIC Center Name of the Day is Lysa. If that’s your name, head on down to the BIC Center to pick out a free drink of your choice. BIRTHDAYS: Kyle Butler, John Matela, Emma Jean Belfy, Larry Dawson, Vivienne Posthumas and Jessica LaFreniere are celebrating today. Happy Birthday to Jessica, Vivienne, Emma Jean, Larry, Jon and Kyle, and if we missed you on the list, Happy Birthday to you, too, from everyone at WVBI and your Beaver Island Community Center! [And, here’s a way to send special birthday wishes to someone on the island: The B-I-C-S National Honor Society will put up a sign in their yard in exchange for a donation of $10 or more to the Build a Cure for Cancer fund. Contact N-H-S president Alyssa Martin for more details. You can reach her through the front desk at school.] |
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TRAFFIC: None. But the roads are covered in thick, sloppy snow. So, let’s be careful out there. |
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On this day in 1989, just past midnight, the Exxon Valdez tanker strikes a reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska. The resulting spill of up to 38 million gallons of crude oil is the largest in US history and will devastate 11,000 square miles of pristine wilderness. Crews cleaning rocks on the shjoreline after the Valdez spill. Photo from bing.com. |
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is Garble (verb) [GAR-bul], a verb that means to change something to cause it to be unclear or distorted. Garbling can be the result of an accident, ignorance, or a transmission error. Garble can also mean “to so alter or distort as to create a wrong impression or change the meaning.” Garble is a word with a spicy history, passing from Arabic to Mediterranean Europe through trade in Eastern spices. It was first introduced into English from the Anglo-French verb garbeler, used for the action of sifting out impurities—such as dust, dirt, husks—from spices. In the 15th century, the English garble carried this same meaning as well as “to cull,” i.e., to sort or pick out the best parts of something. If these origins seem curious given garble‘s now more common meanings, consider that one way of garbling someone’s story is to take bits and pieces out of context. |
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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 Jack Kilby, who is credited as one of the coinventors of the integrated circuit, demonstrated on this date in 1959: “There was a space program before there was integrated circuits.” |
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On a lighter note… Why did the integrated circuit become a baker? It loved making byte-sized treats! |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar for this Beaver Island Monday, March 24th, 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 Snow showers, mainly before 2pm. High near 36. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Total daytime snow accumulation of around an inch possible. Tonight Snow showers likely before 2am, then a slight chance of snow showers after 5am. Cloudy, with a low around 27. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible. Tuesday Scattered snow showers, mainly between 8am and 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a steady temperature around 30. Northwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 37. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 29. Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 39. Thursday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. Friday A chance of rain and snow showers after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36. Friday Night Rain showers, snow showers, and freezing rain likely before 2am, then snow showers and freezing rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. Saturday Rain or freezing rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34. Saturday Night Rain showers, snow showers, and freezing rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. Sunday Rain showers, snow showers, and freezing rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. |
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Photos from webcams at wvbi.net and mackinacbridge.org |
