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Tomorrow is election day. Voters across the Charlevoix-Emmet ISD—including Beaver Island—head to the polls to decide on continuing the millage that supports career and technical education programs. The proposal would fund hands-on learning in areas like skilled trades, health care, and aviation, along with tools, robotics, and mobile STEM programs. On the Island, health and business programs are supported with the funding as are special programs like the STEM trailer that visits each year. I-S-D leaders say without the millage, many of those opportunities could disappear. The millage is the only issue on the ballot on the Island. There’s a link to sample ballots in today’s script online. Polls will be open tomorrow from 7 a-m to 8 in the evening. Sample Ballot Link: https://charlevoixcountymi.documents-on-demand.com/document/34ea797b-d023-f111-a48e-000c29a59557/May%205,%202026%20Special%20Election%20Sample%20Ballots.PDF
Meantime, campaign activity for the November election continues to pick up. Bernie Sanders was in Michigan yesterday campaigning for Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. At a rally in Detroit, both called for higher taxes on billionaires and a Medicare for All health system at a rally. El-Sayed is critical of Israel’s government and supports efforts to end U.S. military aid to the country. The race remains tight ahead of the August primary.
Down in T-C, recovery from the Boardman River overflow continues. The Y-M-C-A there says the flooding damaged courts and flooring, but much of the building avoided serious harm. Crews are now working to restore the site, with hopes of reopening by mid-June—just in time for the YMCA’s popular summer camp.
Also in T-C, a child safety conference is planned at Central High School this week, with national and regional experts on hand. The free May 7 event will run from 4 to 8 covering internet safety, bullying, and abuse prevention. It is open to the public.
The National Weather Service in Gaylord is warning of elevated fire danger across much of the L-P and parts of the U-P today. Gusty southwest winds up to 35 miles per hour and low humidity as low as 20 percent could allow fires to spread quickly. The fire danger level on the Island is set to high, which means burning restrictions are in effect. The winds have a Gale Warning in effect for northern Lake Michigan and there is a small craft advisory in effect for the near shore areas of Lake Huron.
The combination of drying vegetation, low humidity, and gusty winds will result in elevated fire danger across northern Michigan today. For the latest open burning information, please visit: www.dnr.state.mi.us/burnpermits/. Caption & Graphic from NWS Gaylord Office
The shift out of off-season hours continues. Wild Strawberry Café is now open Monday through Saturday 8 to 2 and on Sundays 8 to noon. |
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Now here’s a look at events happening on your Emerald Isle…
First your meeting planner…
St. James Public Works Committee meets at 10:00. St. James and Peaine Township Planning Commissions meet Tuesday at 5:00. St. James Finance Committee meets at 1:30 on Wednesday and the B-I-C-S Committee of the Whole meets at 5:30. St. James Board has a special meeting set for Friday at 1:00. A-A meets Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 6:00. Locations and more details are in the calendar entries online.
On the fun front today…
Monday kicks off a new series of Monday Funday programs start at the BIC Center. There’ll be afterschool crafting at 3:30, and an artist’s workshop at 5:00. This week the workshop will be on Fairy Doors and Seed Sharing led by Christine McKenna and Monica Longlett. After fun at the BIC Center, head over to the Shamrock where Monday’s are All You Can Eat Pizza and Salad night.
Tuesday is election day. Polls open at 7:00 and close at 8:00. At 10:00, Babes & Toddlers mix it up at the library and there is Pickleball in the Theater at the BIC Center and, at 10:30, there’s Chair Strength Training up in the Hangout. At 2:15 there’s a Home School Meet-up at the library.
Wednesday, there’s BINGO at 1:00 at the BIC Center. At 11:00 at the BIC Center, there’ll be a Microgreens Luncheon with Tacos, Tamales, Rice, Beans and desert. Three bucks for seniors and six for others. At3:00, C-O-A has At Therapy & Games at Peaine Township Hall. At 5:00, there’s a Free Throw Fundraiser at school, and at 5:30 the Currach Club will meet at the Boat Shop to plan for the coming season, collect dues and have a look at new boats in progress. In our Dark Skies, the annual Eta Aquariid meteor shower will be flying. There’s more info at Dark Sky Island dot org.
The Currach Club meets this Wednesday at 5:30 at Burton’s Boat Shop. Image from Beaver Island Irish Currach Club
Thursday Women’s Bible Study is on at 10:00 at the Christian Church. There’s Pickleball at the BIC Center at 10:00 in the Theater. At 10:30 up in the Hangout there’s Senior Tai Chi. Meantime at 10:00 over at Peaine Township Hall, C-O-A has Cardio Drumming. Thursday evening, there’s Pickleball at 5:00 in the Theater at the BIC Center. Afterwards, you can grab the burger & a beer special at the Shamrock starting at 5:00, and its Euchre Night down at Whiskey Point Brewing. Cards hit the table at 7:00.
[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, Senior + Vets Coffee & Donuts is at the BIC Center from 9:00 to 11:00. There’s Pickleball at 10:00 and Chair Strength Training at 10:30. At 10:00, the Green Terra Sanctury is holding a meet and greet open house. Meet the owners and caretakers. They are on the south leg of Mrs. Reddings Trail by Oliver Point. Friday evening the Flower Full Moon will shine over Paradise Bay. There’s more info at Dark Sky Island dot org.
[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 B-I-C-S Track Team is off to Pickford for a meet. Talking Threads meets at 9:00 a.m. at Peaine Township Hall. The Fiero Code Club is on at the library at 1:00. The Queen of Hearts draw is at the Elks at 7:00 with all invited. And, remember, Saturdays 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 Christian Church at 10:00 and mass at Holy Cross at 12:15. |
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Today’s BIC Center Name of the Day is Sam. If that’s your name, come on it to the BIC Center to pick out a free drink of your choice. |
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On our Birthday List today: Turner, Brennen and Quinn Jones, David Rosema and Kathleen Wood are celebrating today. Happy Birthday to Kathleen, David, Quinn, Brennan and Turner, 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. Still, let’s be careful out there, especially in the school zone. |
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On this date in 1904, the United States begins construction of the Panama Canal—a project that transforms global trade by linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. And in 1970, tragedy unfolds at Kent State University, as National Guard troops open fire amid protests over the Vietnam War. Four students die and nine are wounded. Work on part of the Panama Canal in a photo dated 1913. Photo from Harris & Ewing Collection at the Library of Congress |
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Our Merriam-Webster Word of the Day is scrupulous (adjective) [SKROO-pyuh-lus]. Scrupulous is an adjective meaning very careful to do things correctly and to act with honesty and integrity. It can also describe someone who pays close attention to detail. The word comes from the Latin word pronounced the same way meaning a small sharp stone—something that causes discomfort, like a pebble in your shoe—reflecting that nagging feeling when something isn’t quite right. |
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Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Monday… |
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Here’s a thought for the day: “Inspiration does exist, but it must find you working.” |
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On a lighter note: Why did the Star Wars movies come out in the order 4 5 6 1 2 3 7 8 9? In charge of the sequence, Yoda was. |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Monday, May 4, 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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Today—Regional Elevated Fire Risk A slight chance of showers between 11am and 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 50 the water and all the way up to 58 inland. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Tonight A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 38. West wind around 10 mph. Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 44/49. West wind 10 to 15 mph. Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 44/47. West wind around 10 mph. Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 44/47. Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 45/49. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 47/51. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 38. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 48/52. |
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Town: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-85.52&lat=45.748 |
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Out on the Big Drink … |
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Today—Gale Warning S wind 10 to 15 kt becoming SSW 15 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 35 kt. A slight chance of showers between 1pm and 4pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Waves 1 ft building to 5 ft. Tuesday WSW wind around 10 kt. Sunny. Waves around 1 ft. Wednesday W wind 5 to 10 kt. Mostly sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. |
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Midway to Charlevoix: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-85.384&lat=45.532 |
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Air Quality Index at 7:00 this morning was 41. |
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Coming up in our Community Calendar Report…
Tomorrow is Election Day, and voters across the Charlevoix-Emmet ISD—including Beaver Island—will decide on a millage that funds career and technical education. Campaigning for the fall continues, with Bernie Sanders rallying in Detroit yesterday for Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. And in Traverse City, the YMCA is recovering from flood damage, aiming to reopen by mid-June, while a child safety conference comes to Central High School later this week. And, the National Weather Service warns of high fire danger today across with gusty winds and low humidity.
…those stories plus school news, a run-down of local meetings and events, birthdays, our word of the day and more after global and national news from F-S-N. [Time check.] |
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Today’s Featured Image: The fire danger level on the Island is set to High, and it is elevated across much of the state. Graphic from Up North Digital Network |
