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Michigan has climbed to 24th in the nation for hospital safety, with nearly 30% of its hospitals earning an “A” grade in the latest Leapfrog Group report. Northern Michigan hospitals did well overall with Munson Medical Center in Traverse and McLaren Northern Michigan in Petoskey both earning Bs. Additionally, Munson Healthcare Cadillac Hospital maintained its “A” grade, marking its fifth consecutive top rating. Munsin in Charlevoix is not ranked. The grades reflect hospital performance in preventing medical errors, infections, and accidents—key factors in patient safety. Michigan is seeing a sharp rise in nitrous oxide misuse among young people. A Wayne State study found a fivefold increase in poisonings and deaths from 2019 to 2023, with 462 cases reported and 14 fatalities. Researchers say easy access to large flavored tanks is fueling the trend, which can lead to nerve damage, paralysis, or death. Lawmakers have passed bans on devices used to inhale the gas, but experts warn much more action is needed. In Lansing, House Republicans voted Wednesday to repeal a law that gives Michigan the power to override local decisions on where wind and solar projects can be built. The repeal is unlikely to advance in the Democrat-led Senate, but GOP leaders say they’re laying the groundwork for future sessions—especially if political control shifts after the 2026 elections. With Warblers on the Water set on the Island for the end of the month, here’s some good birding news: Gabby, the oldest known Great Lakes piping plover, has returned to Sleeping Bear Dunes for breeding season. At 16 years old, she’s far outlived her species’ 3-to-5-year average. Gabby’s flown over 40,000 miles in her lifetime and raised 35 chicks. Conservationists are thrilled to see her back—and hope to protect more plovers this summer with help from volunteers. Some of Gabby’s relatives nest over on the spit on High Island, which we all need to remember to protect.
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Now, here’s a look at events happening on your Emerald Isle… First your meeting planner… AA meets tonight at 6:00 and Saturday same time. Medical First Responder Classes continue tonight at 7:00. That’s it on the meeting front. More details are in the calendar entries online. On the fun front today… Thursday, there’s Pickleball at 10:00 in the Theater at the BIC Center and Women’s Bible Study at the Christian Church also at 10:00. Thursday evening it’s Burger & a Beer at the Shamrock at 5 PM. Friday, seniors and veterans can enjoy Coffee & Donuts at the BIC Center starting at 9 AM. Pickleball at 10:00 and the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program at 10:30 are at the BIC Center in the Theater and Hangout, respectively. [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 Fiero Code Club is on at the library at 2 PM. And Saturday evening is Classic Cinema time at the BIC Center. In the feature for this month Warren Beaty and Faye Dunaway are Bonnie and Clyde in this groundbreaking film from 1967. Showtime is 6 p.m. It’s rated R. Saturday also kicks off the Beaver Island Wildlife Club’s annual tree and shrub giveaway. The plants will be at Levi’s shed on Paid Een Ogs Road. They’ll have 300 shrubs plus 150 trees. Saturday is for members only — but you can join for just $25. Distribution for all will be on Sunday. Supplies are limited and must be picked up in person. [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 and 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, there’s Cardio Drumming up in the Hangout at the BIC Center at 10:00. An at 5:00, there’s Qigong [chi gong] Practice at the BIC Center lead by Tina Carlton. Tuesday, Talking Threads is on at Peaine Township Hall at 9:30. Babes and Toddlers 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. That’s followed by Senior Tai Chi at 11:30. At 2:30, it’s Story Time at the library. Tuesday evening is trivia time at the BIC Center. Let’s Get Quizzical starts at 6:00. Sign up your team at tickets dot bic center dot org. Wednesday, there’s C-O-A bingo at 1:00 in the Hangout at the BIC Center. At 5:00 Wednesday evening head to the commons at B-I-C-S for the annual sports awards. |
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NAME OF DAY: The BIC Center Name of the Day is Steven. If that’s your name, head on down to the BIC Center to pick out a free drink of your choice. BIRTHDAYS: Krys Lyle, Susan Meyers, Rachel Teague, Ruby Antinori and Jason Selby are celebrating today. Happy Birthday to Ruby, Rachel, Susan, Krys and Jason, 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: The W-V-B-I virtual octocopter is flying high in the Island skies and spies…no traffic. But, clewanup work continues down-island. So, watch out for the road crews and let’s be careful out there. |
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On this day in 2010 Michigan bans smoking in Michigan public places, places of employment and food service establishments. The only exceptions are for cigar bars and tobacco specialty stores and for gambling areas of casinos if in existence on May 1, 2010.
Image from wikipedia.org |
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is Convoluted (adjective) [KAHN-vuh-loo-tud], an adjective that describes something that is very complicated and difficult to understand or has many curves and turns. If you’ve ever felt your brain twisting itself into a pretzel while trying to follow a complicated or hard-to-follow line of reasoning, you’ll appreciate the relative simplicity of the adjective convoluted, which is perfect for describing head-scratchers (and pretzel-makers). Convoluted traces back to the Latin verb convolvere, meaning “to roll up, coil, or twist.” Originally, convoluted (like its predecessor in English, the verb convolute) was used in the context of things having literal convolutions—in other words, twisty things like intestines or a ram’s horns. Over time it expanded to figuratively describe things like arguments, plots, stories or logic that are intricate or feature many twists and turns that make them difficult to understand. |
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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 John Kemeny who on this date in 1964 with Thomas Kurtz launched a mainframe timesharing system using their user friendly language BASIC to help students learn how to use computers: “It is the greatest achievement of a teacher to enable his students to surpass him.” |
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On a lighter note… Two bytes meet. The first byte asks, “Are you ill?” The second byte replies, “No, just feeling a bit off.” |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Thursday, May 1st, 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 Rain, mainly after 10am. High near 45. East wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Tonight Rain before 8pm, then showers likely, mainly between 8pm and 11pm. Low around 37. Northeast wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Friday A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Friday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. North wind around 5 mph. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. North wind around 5 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 35. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 55. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. Monday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 59. Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 59. |
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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 ESE wind 10 to 20 kt becoming ENE in the afternoon. Showers, mainly after 9am. Waves 1 ft or less building to 3 ft. Friday NW wind around 10 kt. A chance of showers after 10am. Waves around 1 ft. Saturday N wind around 10 kt becoming W in the afternoon. Sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. |
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Water Temperature: 39 mid-lake… |
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Photos from webcams at wvbi.net and mackinacbridge.org |
