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In Lansing, Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall says he’s open to seeking more time from the feds before cutting Medicaid—but the cuts are coming. His comments follow a White House meeting where Governor Whitmer asked President Trump for a three-year delay to protect care for 2.6 million residents. Meanwhile, budget talks remain stalled. Some schools are already ending free meal programs as funding uncertainty drags on. Democrats say G-O-P inaction is pushing Michigan toward a shutdown. A group called Ax MI Tax is gathering signatures to put a constitutional amendment on Michigan’s 2026 ballot that would ban all property taxes. Supporters say it would ease the burden on taxpayers and fund essential services like police and fire through state revenue sharing. But critics warn it would gut $20 billion in local funding—crippling schools, libraries, parks, and public safety. Schools alone would lose over $11 billion. In T-C, all 11 victims of the July 26 stabbing at the Traverse City Walmart have now been released or transferred acording to an update from Munson Healthcare yesterday. Eleven teens from the Grand Rapids Triathlon Club swam all five Great Lakes in one day—starting in Erie before dawn and ending in foggy Lake Superior after sunset. The July 24th “Great Lakes Dash” spanned two countries and over 800 miles. On the Island, while there’s still some haze, probably smoke, in the air…the AQI readings have improved quite a bit. We’re out of the red at 83 this morning, and things have improved quite a bit across the region.
AQI map at 8:15. Graphic from Purple Air |
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Now, here’s a look at events happening on your Emerald Isle… First your meeting planner. A-A meets at 6:00 at the Christian Church on Thursday and Saturday. And that’s it on the meeting front through the end of next week. On the fun front today… Thursday at 9:00, there’s Pickleball on the Peaine Township Courts. At 10:00 a trifecta of activities: Tai Chi in the Hangout at the BIC Center, C-O-A Cardio Drumming out at the Peaine Township Hall and Women’s Bible Study at the Christian Church. At 11:00, the COA has a Crafter’s Social at the Peaine Township Hall. At 5:30 Thursday, the BIC Center W-V-B-I Summer Breeze Gala gets underway out at the Biological Station. Enjoy a plated dinner, beer, wine and other beverages, live and silent auctions, raffle prizes, music from John Ellison and the Carpenter Ants…and the company of Island friends all at an event to support the BIC Center and W-V-B-I. Tickets are at tickets dot bic center dot org. Also Thursday evening, it’s Burger and a Beer Night at the Shamrock and over at the library at Elizabeth Claire Rose will be the artist in residence for the evening. She’s a print maker who works with photography and collage. That starts at 7:30. Friday, kicks with Senior + Vets Coffee + Donuts is on at the BIC Center from 8:30 to 11:30. At 9:00, there’s Chair Strength Training in the Hangout at the BIC Center and Pickleball on the Peaine Township Courts. Summer Yoga is at 9:30 with a basic flow session in the theater at the BIC Center. C-O-A has a Walkersize session at 10:30, a walk from Heritage Park to the St. James Campground and back. Island Homecoming activities get underway at 12:45 with Ryley Maudrie playing the National Anthem ahead of the 50th annual Bud McDonnough Memorial Softball Tournament. At 6:00 there’s Cleats and Chaos as the Island’s fiercest females bring action to the diamond. And at 7:00 it’s the Mike Perdue Memorial Concert the Doghouse Boodlers playing rock-n-roll. [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.] Highlights for the rest of the week include… Saturday, there’s Pickleball outdoors at 9:00. The Artisan’s Market is on out by the lighthouse at Whiskey Point. That starts at 10:00. At 1:00, there’s a Garden Open house on the south end at Giona Mangra’s and Scot Simon’s Shenanigan’s Garden. That’s to support the Wellness Garden at the Health Center. No charge, but your free will donation will help the wellness garden. Also, at 1:00, the Fiero Coding Club is on at the Library. And, Saturdays are Prime Rib night at the Shamrock. After dinner head out to see a full moon rising over Paradise Bay. [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 Episcopal Mission at 9:00 and the Christian Church at 10:00, and Mass at Holy Cross at 12:15. The annual Bocce Ball Role starts at 11:00. This year it benefits the Health Center. Sign up at Tickets dot bic center dot org. Homecoming Chicken Dinner starts at 4:30 at Holy Cross Hall. Looking ahead to highlights for next week… Monday Volleyball Camp starts at BICS. Summer Yoga is at the BIC Center at 9:30 in the Theater with a Basic Flow session followed by a Therapeutic Chair session at 11:00. At 10:00, Nancy Peterson will be at the library leading a session on beading. C-O-A has Cardio Drumming at 10:00 and a Crafter’s Social at 11:00, both out at Peaine Township Hall. Monday evening is all you can eat pizza night at the Beachcomber. Tuesday, there’s Chair Strength Training at the BIC Center at 9:00. Pickleball is outside on the township courts at 9:00. Babes and Toddlers mix it up at the library at 10:00. At 10:30, there’s C-O-A Walkersize with a walk from Heritage Park out to the St. James Campground and back. At 1:00, drop by the BIC Center Hangout to play Mah Jongg [mah jawng]. Wednesday, Summer Yoga is on at the BIC Center at 9:30 with a restorative session. At the library, there’s Kids Storytime, Crafts and Art for three years and up at 10:00 and then for 10 years and up at 11:00. At the BIC Center, there’s Bingo at 1:00 in the Hangout. At 3:00 C-O-A has Fun & Gamers out at Peaine Township Hall. Also at 3:00, there’s an end of summer reading party at the library. And, there’s BINGO Wednesday evening at the Gregg Fellowship Center. Doors open for fellowship at 6:15. Games start at 7:00. |
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NAME OF DAY: The BIC Center Name of the Day is Herb. If that’s your name, come on into the BIC Center today to pick out a free drink of your choice. BIRTHDAYS: Sue Avery and Carter Meintsma is on our list today. Happy Birthday to Sue and Carter, if we missed you on the list, Happy Birthday to you too from everyone at WVBI and your Beaver Island Community Center! |
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TRAFFIC: No delays inbound or outbound to the airports. The island beltway is running smoothly with no bridge delays. But it is very busy in town when the ferry arrives, and the warm weather means lots of folks at the public beach plus hikers and bikers everywhere. Plus, baby turtles are busy crossing. So, let’s be careful out there. |
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On this date in 1926, US Highway 16 officially opened to traffic as the first fully paved road across Michigan. Known for much of its route as Grand River Avenue, the highway stretched from Detroit to Muskegon. The route had long served travelers—first as a Native American trail along the Grand River, then as a plank road used by early settlers, and later as Michigan State Highway M-16. Paving its full length was a feat of modern engineering at the time and set the stage for future highway development, including its eventual transformation into part of Interstates 96 and 196 during the postwar freeway boom. Though the US-16 designation was retired in the 1960s, its legacy lives on in stretches of state highways, and the business loops of I-96, as well as in the urban backbone of Grand River Avenue in Detroit.
The current route of what is today known as M-16. Image from wikipedia.org |
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is adjudicate (verb) [uh-JOO-dih-kayt]. To adjudicate a dispute between two parties is to make an official decision about which party is right; to adjudicate a case or claim is to settle it judicially. Adjudicate is also used to mean “to act as judge.” Adjudicate is one of several terms that give testimony to the influence of jus, J-U-S, the Latin word for “law,” on our legal language. Others include judgment, judicial, prejudice, jury, justice, injury, and perjury. |
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Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Thursday… |
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Here’s a thought for the day: “Only those who attempt the absurd can achieve the impossible.” |
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On a lighter note… Why was the dinosaur the first to cross the road? Because there was no chicken. |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Thursday, August 7th, 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 A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79/84. Southwest wind around 10 mph. Tonight A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Friday A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 80/84. South wind around 10 mph. Friday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Saturday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83/88. South wind around 15 mph. Saturday Night A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Sunday A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 79/85. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Sunday Night A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Monday A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 78/83. Monday Night A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Tuesday A chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 78/83. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 66. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 79/84. |
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Fire Danger Level on the Island set at High. |
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Out on the Big Drink… |
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Today S wind 5 to 10 kt becoming WSW in the afternoon. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Waves 1 ft or less. Friday S wind 5 to 10 kt becoming WSW in the afternoon. A slight chance of showers before 10am, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 10am and 1pm. Waves 1 ft or less. Saturday S wind around 10 kt. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1pm. Waves around 1 ft. |
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Water Temperature: It’s 70 in Little Traverse Bay. The North Lake Michigan buoy southwest of Gull is reporting 71 with one nearly flat seas.
Mid Lake Michigan photo at time shown. Provided by NWS |
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Photos from webcams at wvbi.net and mackinacbridge.org |
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🏛️ In Lansing, House Speaker Matt Hall says Medicaid cuts are coming—but a delay may be on the table. Budget talks remain stalled, and some schools are already cutting free meals. 💰 Meanwhile, a group wants to ban all property taxes in Michigan. Supporters promise relief—critics warn of collapse. 🩺 In Traverse City, all victims of the Walmart stabbing have been released from the hospital. 🏊♂️ Plus: 11 teens take on all five Great Lakes in one day…and win. 🌫️ And on the Island, air quality is finally improving. |
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Today’s featured photo: Air quality across the region shows improved numbers, but the Big Mac still lurks in haze. Photo from Mackinac Bridge Authority webcam |
