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First some news…
With the start of its season set for tomorrow, the Emerald Isle headed out headed out for a test run yesterday, taking advantage of the area cleared by the Bristol Bay last Friday. The first departure is set for 11:20 tomorrow.
One year after the devastating northern Michigan ice storm that left thousands without power, some residents are calling for changes to prevent future outages. That’s according to reporting from Interlochen Public Radio. The storm knocked out electricity for about 200,000 people and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage, with recovery costs still impacting utility bills today. Now, utilities and communities are weighing whether burying power lines—rather than stringing them overhead—could make the grid more reliable. On the Island, proponents of a community owned fiber system for broadband are exploring whether some power lines could be buried as part of the project. Some providers have already begun installing new lines underground, but the cost can run hundreds of thousands of dollars per mile. As extreme weather becomes more common, officials say the challenge will be finding the right balance between reliability and affordability.
The U.S. Forest Service plans to close four research facilities in Michigan as part of a nationwide reorganization. The sites, located in East Lansing, Wellston, Houghton and L’Anse, will be phased out over the next year. Officials say the changes are aimed at cutting costs and streamlining operations, but critics warn the move could impact forest research, local economies, and partnerships across the state.
Michigan fans are happy this morning after the Wolverines beat UConn 69 to 63 to win their second title—and their first since 1989. Michigan became the first Big Ten team to win it all in over two decades, finishing the season 37 and 3. Despite a tough shooting night, Michigan held off a late UConn push to seal the victory.
Meantime, in Island sports news, the BIC Center has just announced its third annual Golf Tournament for Memorial Day Weekend. First tee is at 9:00 on May 23rd. Registration is $70 per player, with a $20 discount for golf course members, and includes lunch and prizes. You can sponsor a hole to help raise money for BIC Center programs. Contact Kevin Stipp for more info. By the way, he promises the snow will be gone by tee time. <img width="495" height="479" style="width:5.1562in;height:4.9895in" id="Picture_x0020_8" src="https://wvbi.biccenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/image002.jpg" alt="May be an image of golf and text that says 'BIC Center 3rd Annual GOLF TOURNAMENT MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND MAY 23 at 9:00M CONTACT US KevinStipp Kevin Stipp klstipp57@gmail.com klsti (951) 453-1367 $70 per player $50 member OUTING FEE INCLUDES •Round of Golf Lunch Prizes Individual & Team ASK US HOW YOU CAN BECOME A SPONSOR…'”> Promo poster for the BIC Center 2026 Golf Tournament. Contact Kevin Stipp for sponsorship opportunities. Image from BIC Center Facebook post.
Over on the mainland, the 11th annual Autism Acceptance Walk is set for April 26 at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Boyne City. Registration opens at 9, with the walk beginning at 10. Hosted by North Country Community Mental Health, the event welcomes individuals, families, and community members to come together in support of autism awareness. |
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Now here’s alook at events happening on your Emerald Isle…
First your meeting planner…
Peaine Township Planning Commission meets this evening at 5:00. B-I-C-S Committee of the Whole meets Wednesday at 5:30. A-A meets this evening, Thursday and Saturday at 6:00. Locations and more details are in the calendar entries online.
On the fun front today…
Tuesday 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. And at 6:00 it’s trivia time at the BIC Center. That’s right, Let’s Get Quizzical starts at 6:00. Sign your team up at tickets dot bic center dot org.
Image from WVBI Community Calendar
Wednesday, there’s BINGO at 1:00 at the BIC Center. And at 5:00 it’s Time for Art, at the BIC Center. This week the first of three sessions on creating plaster molds led by Cindy Ricksgers.
Highlights for the rest of the week include…
Thursday the robotics team is off for Ferris State and their second competition of the season. 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. 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, the robotics team is competing at Ferris State. Visit b-I-robot dot org for info on how to watch online. 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.
[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 Fiero Code Club is on at the library at 1:00. There are two movies showing at the BIC Center, both as part of the libraries Big Read project on Survival. The 3:00 show is the Disney classic Swiss Family Robinson. It’s rated G. Then at 6:00 it’s Tom Hanks in Cast Away. Hanks plays a FedEx exec who winds up on a deserted island after his plane crashes. It’s rated PG-13. 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.
Looking ahead to highlights for next week…
Monday evening is All You Can Eat Pizza and Salad night at the Shamrock. This week is international Dark Sky Week. Celebrate with special displays at the library and the BIC Center, and learn more about the importance of our Dark Skies at dark sky island dot org. |
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Today’s BIC Center Name of the Day is Quincy. 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 we have Maura Turner, Mike Weede and Frankie Lamb. Happy Birthday to Frankie, Maura and Mike 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 and there are no bridge delays. But, hey, let’s be careful out there, especially in the school zone. |
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On this date in 1940, the United States issues a stamp honoring Booker T. Washington, its first postage stamp honoring an African American. Washington was an influential educator, speaker, and advisor to presidents, and a leading voice for Black Americans in the years after Reconstruction. The commemorative stamp was released 25 years after his death. Booker T. Washington first day cover. Image from Smithsonian National Postal Museum |
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is laudable (adjective) [LAW-duh-bul]. Something that is laudable is worthy of praise or deserving approval. You might use it to describe a community effort or a person’s actions that really stand out in a positive way. The word comes from the Latin laudare [low-DAH-ray], meaning “to praise.” It entered English in the 1400s and has kept that meaning ever since. So when something’s laudable, it’s something worth recognizing—and maybe even celebrating. |
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Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Tuesday, … |
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Here’s a thought for the day, from Booker T. Washington: “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.” |
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On a lighter note: Michigan just won the national championship…and even the power lines are celebrating—because they fall down under pressure. |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Tuesday, April 7th, 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 A 20 percent chance of snow showers before 8am. Partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 29. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 25. South wind around 10 mph. Wednesday A chance of snow showers before 2pm, then a slight chance of rain and snow showers. Increasing clouds, with a high near 43. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Wednesday Night Showers, mainly between 8pm and 2am. Low around 36. Windy, with a south wind 20 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Thursday A 30 percent chance of showers before 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 40. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Thursday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Friday Partly sunny, with a high near 39. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 31. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 40. Saturday Night A chance of showers after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Sunday Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47. Sunday Night Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 41. Breezy. Monday Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 47. Breezy. |
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Out on the Big Drink … |
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Today N wind 5 to 10 kt becoming WSW in the afternoon. Partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. Wednesday S wind around 20 kt, with gusts as high as 25 kt. A chance of rain and snow showers before noon, then a chance of snow showers between noon and 1pm, then a slight chance of rain showers after 1pm. Waves around 3 ft. Thursday WSW wind 15 to 20 kt. Mostly sunny. Waves 3 to 5 ft. |
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Air Quality Index at 6:30 this morning was 5. |
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Photos from webcams at wvbi.net and mackinacbridge.org |
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Coming up in our Community Calendar Report…
The Emerald Isle heads out for a test run with the ferry season set to start tomorrow. One year after a massive ice storm, could burying power lines be the key to preventing future outages? Plus, the U.S. Forest Service plans to shut down several Michigan facilities. And, Michigan takes the national title—ending a decades-long drought for the Big Ten.
…all of those stories plus a run-down of local events, birthdays and more after global and national news from F-S-N. [Time check.] |
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Today’s Featured Image: Golfers get ready! It’s time for the 3rd Annual BIC Center Golf Tournament. Photo from BIC Center |
