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Three people have been arrested for drug trafficking after a joint investigation by Traverse Narcotics Team and Straits Area Narcotics Enforcement. State Police say the suspects, including two teens, were caught with fentanyl, heroin, crack and powder cocaine, plus over $1,700 in cash. The Traverse Ticker reports that the arrests followed a fentanyl buy and traffic stop on June 6. A 21-year-old Muskegon man is jailed; the teens were released to their guardians. In a story that’s been picked up statewide, Interlochen Public Radio reports that a $20 million conservation project to restore 29 streams across northwest Michigan has been halted after Congress rescinded funding tied to the Inflation Reduction Act. The Grand Traverse Band and its partners had already spent $450,000 preparing for the work. They’re appealing the loss but say the future of the project is uncertain. There’s a lin kto th full story in today’s script. The U.S. Department of Education is investigating eight scholarships at Western Michigan University after a complaint alleged they discriminate based on race, sex, or national origin. The complaint came from a conservative group challenging diversity-focused aid programs nationwide. On the Island, Baroque on Beaver 2025 launches this evening with a Festival Preview at the Print Shop, Join Festival Music Director Robert Nordling for an overview of festival events and a behind the scenes look at putting the festival together. There’ll be drinks and desserts. Tickets are at tickets dot bic center dot org. And, here’s a note from the Health Center: If you’ve been waiting to see a podiatrist, Dr. Richmond will be there on the 28th. Call 2275 to get an appointment. |
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Now, here’s a look at events happening on your Emerald Isle… First your meeting planner. B-I-C-S students who want to play sports can get physicals on today. Check with school for details. And, there’s a community blood donation meeting Friday at Gregg Fellowship Center. There’s sign up info in the calendar entry. On the fun front today… Thursday, the Trails Association is out working on Barney’s Lake Trail. It’s Paint a Rock, Hide a Rock Day at the BIC Center. Come in from 9:00 to noon to pint and then head out to hide your rock. 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. Again, all those events starting at 10:00. At 11:00, the COA has a Crafter’s Social at the Peaine Township Hall. The library has a teen art night set for 7:00 that will be led by library mural creator Keith Grassmick along with Marika Grassmick. And don’t forget Thursdays are Burger and a Beer Night at the Shamrock. At 7:30 Baroque on Beaver events kick off with a Festival Introduction session at the Print Shop. Robert Nordling will provide an overview while you enjoy drinks, desert and discussion. Image from Jennifer Holman-Welch 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. At 11:00, the Rita Gillespie Memorial Blood Drive gets underway at the Gregg Fellowship Center. You can get an appointment online at vesrsiti dot org slash M-I or call 866 M-I blood. Forget to sign up? Just show up any time before 4:30 Friday afternoon and give the gift of life. [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, 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. Baroque music gets underway with their Opening Night Benefit at the BIC Center featuring renowned pianist Jaeden Izik-Dzurko. There’ll be a pre-show reception with food, wine and champagne and an opportunity to meet the artist afterwards. The reception starts at 6:30. Showtime is 7:30. Tickets are at tickets dot bic center dot org. Your admission price includes a donation the Beaver Island Performing Arts Alliance. [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. Looking ahead to highlights for next week… Monday 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. C-O-A has Cardio Drumming at 10:00 and a Crafter’s Social at 11:00, both out at Peaine Township Hall. Baroque events continue with Brass on the Grass out at Whiskey Point. That’s at 3:00 out by the lighthouse. Monday evening, its New & Next, contemporary classical with Robert Nordling at the BIC Center. Showtime is 7:30. And, for a meal after, remember that Monday evening is all you can eat pizza night at the Beachcomber. After dark, head outside to enjoy the Delta Aquarids meteor shower. It can produce up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak, which is tonight just after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Aquarius, but can appear anywhere in the sky. There’s more info at dark sky island dot org. 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]. At 3:00, head over to the Beaver Island Gallery to enjoy the Emerald Winds outside in the pines. Its Chamber Music al Fresco and there is no admission, but a free will donation supports Baroque on Beaver. Tuesday evening head down to the Bio Station to enjoy Chamber Music Waterside. The music starts at 7:30. Tickets are at tickets dot bic center dot org. 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, at Whiskey Point Brewery, Baroque on Beaver presents the St. James Jazz Ensemble. The show is sold out. At 7:00, there’s BINGO at the Gregg Fellowship Center. Doors open at 6:15 for fellowship. At 7:30, down at C-M-U it is Baroque’s Chamber Music Waterside. Tickets are at tickets dot bic center dot org. |
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NAME OF DAY: The BIC Center Name of the Day is Lily. If that’s your name, come on into the BIC Center today to pick out a free drink of your choice. BIRTHDAYS: John Jansson and Avery Gerace are on our list today. Happy Birthday to Avery and John, 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 1880, Grand Rapids Electric Light & Power Company flips the switch on the world’s first commercial central station hydroelectric power plant. Powered by a water turbine at the Wolverine Chair and Furniture Company, it lights up stores, a hotel, and an opera house—making Grand Rapids the first city to offer electric lighting from hydropower. The venture marks the beginning of what will become Consumers Energy.
Grand Rapids Electric Light & Power Company buildings in late 1890s. Image from Michigan Day-by-Day |
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is panacea (noun) [pan-uh-SEE-uh], which is something that is regarded as a cure-all—that is, something that will make everything about a situation better. The maxim “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” isn’t true, but belief in a miraculous botanical “cure for whatever ails ya” has existed for millennia and is at the root of the word panacea. The word’s Latin and Greek forebears referred to plants with legit healing properties, including mints and yarrows. But, In current use, panacea most often refers to a remedy—medical or otherwise—that inevitably falls far short of what some claim or hope it can do. |
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Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Thursday… |
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Here’s a thought for the day from Amelia Earhart, who was born on this day in 1897: “You haven’t seen a tree until you’ve seen its shadow from the sky.” |
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On a lighter note… Which Knight invented the round table? Sir Cumference. |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Thursday, July 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 A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 11am. Could be heavy rain at times. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77/81. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Friday Sunny, with a high near 78/83. North wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Friday Night Increasing clouds, with a low around 65. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming east in the evening. Saturday A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 77/82. South wind around 10 mph. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 79/84. Sunday Night A chance of showers after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. Monday A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 8am. Partly sunny, with a high near 79/84. Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 78/83. Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 75/80. |
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Fire Danger Level on the Island set at Low. |
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Out on the Big Drink… |
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Today SW wind 10 to 15 kt becoming W in the afternoon. Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly between 1pm and 3pm. Waves 1 to 2 ft. Friday Variable winds 5 kt or less. Sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. Saturday SSE wind around 10 kt becoming E in the afternoon. A chance of showers. Waves 1 ft or less. |
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Water Temperature: It’s 67 in Little Traverse Bay. The North Lake Michigan buoy southwest of Gull is reporting 66 with one to two foot 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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🚔 Fentanyl, heroin, and cash — three arrested, including two teens, after a big drug bust in Northern Michigan. 🌊 A $20 million stream restoration project is suddenly on hold after Congress pulls federal funding. 🎓 Western Michigan University faces a federal probe over scholarships aimed at minority students. 🎶 And Baroque on Beaver 2025 opens tonight with a special Festival Preview at the Print Shop — music, desserts, and a look behind the scenes! |
