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A key public hearing on Enbridge’s proposed Line 5 tunnel project is set for tonight. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy will hold a virtual meeting and hearing beginning at 6 p.m. on a draft permit that would allow treated wastewater discharges associated with construction of the tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac. The session will begin with an agency presentation and question-and-answer period before public comments are taken for the record. Public comments on the permit will continue to be accepted through June 30. The hearing comes as separate state and federal permit reviews and multiple court challenges to the Line 5 project continue. Information on participating by Zoom or by phone is linked in today’s script. Meeting Info: Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_OhIfj94BQDOY4mDXu57Imw#/registration
The Charlevoix County emergency alert system telephone some Islander’s this morning with a tornado warning alert advising to take shelter immediately. The National Weather Service did not issue any warnings, though, and there are no reports of any actual sightings from Islanders or any damage.
University of Michigan researchers will be on the Island this weekend to demonstrate experimental wave-powered generators designed to turn Lake Michigan waves into electricity. The project grew out of two years of collaboration with Islanders, who told researchers they want more reliable power, especially for the airport during emergencies. The prototype devices will be demonstrated Saturday at 10 a.m. at the CMU boathouse at Whiskey Point as part of the Island’s Sustainability Fair. Researchers hope public feedback will help refine the technology before larger-scale testing in the years ahead.
Graphic depicting possible wave energy systems. Image from Ta-Chih Hung at Zuo lab University of Michigan Wave Energy Project
Beaver Island EMS is looking for volunteers to help with its annual Pancake Breakfast on July 5th. The popular event serves breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m., or until the food runs out. Volunteers are needed for setup, cooking, serving, cleanup, and helping guests throughout the morning. Anyone interested in lending a hand can contact Beaver Island EMS or Kathleena Mason through Facebook Messenger.
The Joint Telecommunications Advisory Committee is planning an information session on Broadband for the 23rd at 5:00. That’s next Tuesday evening. They’ll have an update on a proposal for a community owned, Island-wide fiber project.
Deb’s Creations on the Back Highway has opened for the summer. There hours are 10:00 to 4:00 Thursday through Monday. They’ll be closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
And, finally in our news, a reminder that the Beaver Island Post Office and all other U.S. Post Offices will be closed tomorrow in observance of Juneteenth. There will be no regular mail delivery or retail window service on Friday. Postal operations are scheduled to resume Saturday. |
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Now here’s a look at other upcoming events on your Emerald Isle…
First your meeting planner…
Library Board and J-TAC meet Thursday at 4:30. A-A meets tonight and Saturday at 6:00. Locations and more details are in the calendar entries online.
On the fun front today…
Thursday, 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. Thursday afternoon the Sustainability Fair gets underway with a session on Turning Poop into Gold with a Sludgehammer septic system. It’ll be part of Tara Meadow’s new Sustainability Camp. The session is at Tara’s Meadow on West Side Drive south of Greene’s Lake. At 7:00 at the library local author Jake Bontrager will talk about his new book. He’ll sign copies that will be available for sale. And, Thursday evening is Burger and a Beer Night at the Shamrock.
[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, there’s Senior and Vets Coffee and Donuts from 9:00 to 11:00 in the Welcome Center at the BIC Center, plus Chair Strength Training up in the Hangout at 9:30. Sustainability Fair events include a Welcome Reception at the BIC Center at noon for the Irish & Odawa Storytellers and artists that will perform later at the BIC Center. That’ll be followed at 1:00 by a On Being Native: Indigeneity & Environmental Activism. At 7:00, the BIC Center stage comes alive with an Irish & Odawa Jam Session: Storytelling, Drum and Dance Music. And Friday will be the first Elks Burger Night of the summer. Half pounders with all the trimmings and optional sides. They’ll be serving drive up at the GFC from 5:00 to 6:30. You can order ahead on Thursday from 1 to 5 to avoid a wait at 313-680-5023.
The first Elks Burger Night of the summer (or of you want to be technical, last of the Spring) is Friday from 5:00 to 6:30. Image from Beaver Island Elks on Facebook
[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, the Artisan’s Market is on at the Point starting at 10:00. It’s 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 Sunday is the Summer Solstice.
Looking ahead to highlights for next week…
Monday, Open Hands has breakfast at the GFC from 8:00 to 11:00. COA has Cardio Drumming at 10:00 and Art Therapy at 11:00 at Peaine Township Hall. At the library, the Senior Digital Social Café with Greg Doig is at 11:00. Monday Funday at the BIC Center is an Open Mic Night hosted by Herb Ledbetter. And, don’t forget, Monday evenings are All You Can Eat Pizza and Salad night at the Beachcomber. In our Dark Skies this evening and tomorrow evening, watch the waxing gibbous moon near Spica, the brightest star in Virgo the Maiden. You can also catch them until after midnight.
Graphic from earthsky.org via darkskyilsand.org
Tuesday 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 and there is Pickleball outside on the township courts. And, ay 5:00, the 0Joint Telecommunications Advisory Committee is planning an information session on Broadband. They’ll have an update on a proposal for a community owned, Island-wide fiber project and provide information on projects underway on the Island.
Wednesday, the Open Hands Café: Breakfast Club runs 8:00 until 10:00 a.m. at the G-F-C. At 1:00, there’s Seniors BINGO at the BIC Center. At 3:00, the Book Club meets at the library to discuss Theo of Golden by Allen Levi. And at 4:00, the Amik Cultural Preservation Center will b eopen.
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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 Ethan. If that’s your name, come on down to the BIC Center today to pick out a free drink of your choice. |
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Our Birthday List today are Jewel Cushman and Slater Phillips. Happy Birthday to Slater and Jewel, 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 save for occasional paving delays on East Side Drive and hauling delays by the municipal airport. There are no bridge delays. But, the Island is busier than ever with all the construction traffic, bikers and hikers, fawns and turtles and traffic when the ferry arrives, so let’s be careful out there. |
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In our countdown to 250, on this date in 1778 British forces abandon Philadelphia after nearly nine months of occupation, retreating toward New York as the American Revolution enters a new phase. Also, on this date in 1983, Sally Ride becomes the first American woman in space when she blasts off aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger. At age 32, she is also the youngest American astronaut ever to reach orbit.
Left: The launch of Space Shuttle Challenger on STS-7; center: Ride on Challenger’s Flight Deck; right: Challenger as seen from the SPAS-01 satellite. Photos from NASA |
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is acquiesce (verb) [ak-wee-ESS]. To acquiesce is to accept something, agree to it, or allow it to happen without protest or argument. If you quietly go along with a decision even though you might not fully agree, you’ve acquiesced. The word comes from a Latin verb meaning “to be quiet” or “to rest,” making it a cousin of the word quiet. Acquiesce entered English through French in the early 1600s and originally could mean not only to comply, but also to be satisfied or at rest. |
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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 Astronaut Sally Ride: “Our future lies with today’s kids and tomorrow’s space exploration.” |
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On a lighter note… It was a real tongue twister. |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Thursday, June 18th, 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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WEATHER |
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[Current Condition Report, then…] |
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Today Showers, mainly before 8am. High near 63 by the water and 69 inland. North wind around 15 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 56. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Juneteenth Sunny, with a high near 63/69. West wind 10 to 15 mph. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 65/72. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 56. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 68/83. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 68/80. Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 53. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 67/80. Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. Wednesday Partly sunny, with a high near 66/79. |
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Air Quality Index at 7:15 was 14. |
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Fire Danger: High |
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Out on the Big Drink…
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Today N wind around 15 kt becoming W in the afternoon. Showers likely, mainly before 10am. Waves 1 to 2 ft. Juneteenth W wind 10 to 15 kt. Sunny. Waves 1 to 2 ft. Saturday Variable winds 5 kt or less. Mostly sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. |
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Water Temps: 51 at the mid-lake buoy southwest of Gull Island. 55 at the straits. |
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Photos from webcams at wvbi.net and mackinacbridge.org |
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Coming up in our Community Calendar Report…
Tonight’s Line 5 tunnel hearing could shape the future of one of the Great Lakes’ most controversial projects. Plus, U of M researchers bring wave-powered electricity experiments to Beaver Island this weekend, a broadband update meeting is coming up, and a reminder that the Post Office will be closed tomorrow for Juneteenth.
…those stories, more local news, a run-down of local events, birthdays and more after this global and national news from F-S-N. [Time check.] |
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Today’s featured image: An Enbridge Energy “Warning: Petroleum Pipeline” at the site of the Line 5 oil pipeline. There’s a hearing this evening starting at 6:00 on a key permit needed to construct a tunnel under the Straits to replace Line 5. Photo posted to Flickr by Tony Webster via Wikimedia Commons. |
