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Michigan could face a government shutdown if a budget deal isn’t reached by October 1st. The Republican-led House, Democratic Senate, and Governor Whitmer remain divided, especially over how to find $3 billion for road repairs. While Whitmer is on a trade mission, her administration has begun contingency planning in case the deadline is missed. That includes identifying which services would be suspended, which 50,000 state workers might be furloughed, and how to keep essential functions like State Police and prisons operating. Shutdowns in 2007 and 2009 lasted only hours, but officials warn a prolonged one could hit parks, Secretary of State offices, and more. Down in T-C, the pedestrian bridge over US-31 at Traverse City State Park will be removed overnight September 20th to 21st. The Traverse Ticker says a signed detour via Three and Four Mile roads will route traffic during the closure. Prep work begins September 15th, shifting lanes on US-31 but keeping two open each way, but that could still cause delays, so take note if you are headed down to T-C next week. Originally slated to be replaced with a surface crosswalk, the bridge—beloved by many—will instead be replaced by a new span at a different location once funding and land are secured.
The TC State Park pedestrian bridge is coming down soon. Photo from Traverse Ticker There was big progress last week on a new information kiosk at the Beaver Head Lighthouse. Volunteers set posts, finished the roof, and will trim and paint it white to match the Keepers Quarters in the weeks ahead. The Historical Association will add new signage soon. All labor and materials were donated. Work on the new info kiosk at the south end light was done by Levi Connor (augering holes), Mark Howie, Dave Case, Horst Blessing, Dave Derosia, and Keith Brothers (building crew), and David Nedwick (pruning and brush work). Photo provided by Keith Brothers Finally, a reminder for would-be hunters that a Hunter Safety Field Day is set for September 28th. Complete the online course at Michigan.gov/DNR, then contact Levi Connor for field day signup. Both steps are required for first-time hunting licenses. |
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Now, here’s a look at events happening on your Emerald Isle… First your meeting planner…
On the fun front today… 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. And, in our Dark Skies, look for Jupiter in the early morning hours to the east. It will rise higher in the sky each night as we head to the end of the month. There’s more at dark sky island dot org. Wednesday, yoga is on at the BIC Center at 9:30 with a restorative session. It’s the last session of the season. Also at the BIC Center, there’s Bingo at 1:00 in the Hangout.
Wednesday is the last session of Summer Yoga at the BIC Center. Summer Yoga will return next summer. Highlights for the rest of the week include… Thursday, at 9:00, there’s Pickleball on the Peaine Township Courts. At 10:00 a trio 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. Thursday evening at the library, poet Steve Brown will be there to share his work as the library wraps up its Artist/Naturalist in Residence program for the season. Also Thursday evening, it’s Burger and a Beer Night at the Shamrock. In our dark sky tonight, look for Saturn rising in the east around midnight. Friday, 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. There’s Pickleball at 9:00, too, on the outdoor courts at Peaine Township Park. C-O-A has a Walkersize session at 10:30, a walk from Heritage Park to the St. James Campground and back. B-I-C-S Soccer and Volleyball squads take on Ojibwe in matches starting at noon at home. In our Dark Skies, as dusk falls this evening look to the western horizon to see Mars lined up with Spica. There’s more at Dark Sky Island dot org.[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 back this weekend starting at 10:00 out at Whiskey Point. Fiero Coding Club is on at the library at 1:00. And, movies are back at the BIC Center after a summer hiatus. The 3:00 show is the latest from Pixar. It’s Elio, the story of a young a space fanatic with an active imagination who finds himself on a cosmic misadventure. At 7:00, it’s Martin Scorsese’s The Waltz, a film account of the last concert of The Band including performances by greats of the era including Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell, Neil Diamond, Emmy Lou Harris, Van Morrison and Bob Dylan. With the sound system in the theater, it’ll be like the final concert of the summer season. And, 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, 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, in our dark skies, Aquila the Eagle is home to the star Altair, which is one of the corners of the Summer Triangle. The best time to see Aquila is in the evening sky through November as it soars along the Milky Way. And, because our galaxy provides a starry backdrop, many clusters and nebulae lie within its borders. There’s more info at Dark Sky Island dot org. |
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NAME OF DAY: The BIC Center Name of the Day is Vaughn. If that’s your name, come on into the BIC Center today to pick out a free drink of your choice. BIRTHDAYS: Joe Timsak, Sue Howard, Theresa Mooney, Matt Siller, and Sally Schild are on our list today. Happy Birthday to Sally, Theresa, Sue, Matt and Joe, and 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, let’s be careful out there—especially in the school zone. |
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On this date in 1947, On September 9, 1947, a team of computer scientists and engineers report a moth caught between the relay contacts of the Harvard Mark II computer in Cambridge, Massachusetts. They tape the dead moth into the logbook for the computer and note it is “First actual case of bug being found.” Whythe first actual case? Because starting with Thomas Edison in the 1800s, the term “bug” had been used to describe a mistake or failure in a technical system, but this was the first time it actually was a bug. Also on this date in 1910, the car ferry Pere Marquette 18 sinks in Lake Michigan about 20 miles off Wisconsin. Despite hours of effort, the 350-foot vessel goes down suddenly, taking 29 lives—including the first wireless operator lost in Great Lakes service. Nearby ships rescue over 30 survivors, but the cause of the disaster remains unknown. Top of Form Bottom of Form
Log entry describing the ”first computer bug.” Image of map from computerhistory.org
Illustration depicting S.S. Pere Marquette 18 in distress with flags upside down and another ferry (perhaps the S.S. Pere Marquette 17) coming to the rescue. Image from Michigan Day-by-Day |
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is insinuate (verb) [in-SIN-yuh-wayt]. To insinuate something (especially something bad or insulting) is to say it in a subtle or indirect way. It can also mean “to gradually make (oneself) a part of a group or a person’s life, often by behaving in a dishonest way.” In both cases, insinuating involves a kind of figurative bending or curving around your meaning: you introduce something—an idea, an accusation, a point of view, or presence—without saying it or doing it directly. The winding path is visible in the word’s etymology: insinuate comes from the Latin verb sinuāre (pronounced sin-oo-AH-reh), meaning “to bend or curve,” which in turn comes from the Latin noun sinus (pronounced SEE-noos), meaning “curve.” |
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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 Admiral Grace Hopper, who was present when the first computer bug was found: “The most damaging phrase in the language is: ‘It’s always been done that way.’” |
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On a lighter note… What did Ebenezer Scrooge say when his computer wasn’t working? “Bah, dumb bugs!” |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Tuesday, September 9th, 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 Mostly sunny, with a high near 67/71. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Tonight A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60/57. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph. Wednesday Partly sunny, with a high near 67/71. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 58/54. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 68/75. East wind around 10 mph. Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 59/55. Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 70/73. Friday Night A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60/54. Saturday A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 70/73. Saturday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57/54. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 69/72. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 56/53. Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 68/71. |
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Fire Danger Level on the Island set at Low. AQI this morning was 15.
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Out on the Big Drink… |
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Today SSW wind 15 to 20 kt, with gusts as high as 25 kt. Mostly sunny. Waves 3 to 4 ft. Wednesday Variable winds 5 kt or less. Partly sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. Thursday Variable winds 5 kt or less. Sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. |
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Water Temperature: It’s 63 in Little Traverse Bay. The North Lake Michigan buoy southwest of Gull is reporting 56 with than five-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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Michigan edges toward an Oct 1 shutdown—Whitmer’s team readies contingencies. In T-C, the US-31 footbridge comes down Sept 20–21—detours ahead. Plus, lighthouse kiosk progress and a hunter safety reminder—it’s all in today’s Community calendar Report along with a look at this date in history, birthdays, a word of the day and a bad joke…all after a global and national news update from FSN. [timecheck] |
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Today’s featured image: Work on the new info kiosk at the south end light was done last week by Levi Connor (augering holes), Mark Howie, Dave Case, Horst Blessing, Dave Derosia, and Keith Brothers (building crew), and David Nedwick (pruning and brush work). Photo provided by Keith Brothers |
