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The Beaver Island Airport is set to reopen Friday morning following the successful completion of its Runway 9/27 rehabilitation project. The project included a rebuilt runway and upgrades to the runway lighting system, both of which will be fully operational when flights resume. Airport Manager Rachel Teague says the improvements strengthen the safety, reliability, and long-term future of the Island’s air transportation system. In a press statement, the Airport Board thanked contractors, engineers, transportation partners, and the community for their patience and support during the closure.
Final work on the runway and ramp replacement project is underway with the airport scheduled to reopen on Friday. Photo by Kevin Boyle
Down in Cadillac, more than 50 residents packed a Wexford County planning meeting Monday to voice opposition to a proposed 1,500-acre solar project. The development is still in its earliest stages, with no site plan yet submitted, but residents raised concerns about the loss of farmland, impacts on wildlife, property values, and local control. A public hearing on a zoning amendment needed for the project is scheduled for July 27.
In D-C, a bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced legislation that would ban the weed killer paraquat nationwide. The herbicide, used on crops including corn and soybeans inclusing in Michigan, has been linked in some studies to an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease. Supporters say the chemical poses serious health risks and note it has already been banned in more than 70 countries. The proposal would end all registered uses of paraquat in the United States.
On the Island, a crew of volunteers transformed the light poles on main street last evening with the deployment of banners honoring Islanders who have served in the military. Michelle LaFreniere organized the crew in installing the display, which is funded with grants to the historical society as part of their America 250 celebration. They’ll start a series of presentations on Incredible Islanders next month, including sessions on Island veterans and their service.
Meantime, it appears that the Island’s Independence Day celebrations will extend to the 5th with a fireworks display that evening. The timing of the Fourth this year (on a Saturday when many communities schedule holiday displays) and America 250 celebrations plus staffing and Island logistics all combined to drive the display to Sunday. But that just means another day to celebrate 250 years. The rockets will glare just after dusk settles in on July 5th. Be there, or be a Red Coat.
This year’s community fireworks display will be on July 5th. Poster from St. James Township Facebook post
The Island’s Currach Club is busy with training for events planned for the Irish Feile coming up in September…and with getting gout to enjoy the Bay on a nice day. They were out on Monday for several hours. If you’d like to get involved, reach out to them on the Heritage Group website at B-I-I-H-G dot com. Row, row, row your currach, a traditional Irish boat. Photo by Leila Freijy |
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Now here’s a look at other upcoming events on your Emerald Isle…
First your meeting planner…
A-A meets Thursday and Saturday at 6:00 at the Christian Church. That’s it on the meeting front through the end of next week.
On the fun front today…
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. And at 4:00, the Amik Cultural Preservation Center will be open. Wednesday evening at the C-M-U bio station, there’ll be a presentation on Dunes: the landscapes that inspire. It’s a presentation by Dr. Tiffany Schriever from Western Michigan University running from 7:00 until 8:00 in the academic center there.
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. And, Thursday evening is Burger and a Beer Night at the Shamrock.
Highlights for the rest of the week include…
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. At 7:00, the library will feature author Steve Brown in a discussion about his book with a reading and signing.
[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 Artisan’s Market is on at the Point starting at 10:00. At the library, there’ll be a writer’s workshop from noon to 4:00 on writing poems about the real world. It will be led by author Steve Brown. At 3:00 at the CMU biological station, there’s a Plant and Horticulture Seminar with a look at Strategies for Conservation and Landscaping in Residential Design. And at 6:30, dinner will be served at the BIC Center ahead of a performance by Michael Carlucio with Proud to be an American. Classic songs. Timeless charm and a delicious dinner worthy of a New York supper club. Tickets are at tickets dot bic center dot org.
[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. At 9:30, the first session of summer yoga is on at the BIC Center. It’ll be a session on Basic Flow. 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. And, don’t forget, Monday evenings are All You Can Eat Pizza and Salad night at the Beachcomber.
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. |
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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 Eli. 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 is empty. But, if we missed you on the list, Happy Birthday to you 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 gets busier every day with all the construction traffic, walkers and talkers, turkeys and squirrels, and traffic in town when the ferry arrives, so let’s be careful out there. |
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As we count down to America’s 250th birthday, we look back to this date in 1778. Just four days before the Battle of Monmouth, soldiers on both sides of the Revolutionary War witnessed a solar eclipse stretching from the Carolinas (where it was total) to New England (where it was around 90%). Many troops saw daylight turn to darkness as they prepared for one of the war’s largest battles. Some may have taken it as a sign of things to come either good or bad, while others simply marveled at one of nature’s most spectacular events or as one soldier recalled after the war, took no notice of it at all. Path of the solar eclipse on Jube 24th of 1778. It was total from New Orlean through Atlanta to Raleigh and partial in New England and in New Jersey where troops were preparing for the Battle of Monmouth. Graphic from NASA |
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is pantheon (noun) [PAN-thee-ahn]. A pantheon can mean all the gods of a particular culture, but more often today it refers to a group of the most famous, respected, or influential people or things. The word comes from the Greek pantheion [pan-THAY-on]—meaning “all the gods”—and was first used for the great Roman Pantheon, a domed temple still standing nearly 2,000 years after it was rebuilt. Today, we might speak of a great author joining the pantheon of world literature or an athlete entering the pantheon of sports legends. |
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Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Wednesday… |
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Here’s a thought for the day from Henry David Thoreau: “The sun still shines, even when it is hidden.” |
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On a lighter note… But apparently repeated bad jokes don’t make you a legend. |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Wednesday, June 24th, 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 A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62 by the water 65 inland. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Tonight A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2am. Cloudy, with a low around 54. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Thursday A 40 percent chance of showers before 2pm. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a steady temperature around 58/63. Northeast wind around 10 mph. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 53. North wind around 10 mph. Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 64/64. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 68/69. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 59. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 71/71. Sunday Night A chance of showers after 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Monday A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 69/69. Monday Night A chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. Tuesday A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 70/70. |
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Air Quality Index at 7:35 was 18. |
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Fire Danger: Moderate |
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Out on the Big Drink…
Image from National Data Buoy Center buoy halfway between North Manitou and Washington Islands (Station 45002) |
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Today Variable winds 5 kt or less. A chance of showers, mainly after 11am. Waves 1 ft or less. Thursday E wind 5 to 10 kt becoming NNE in the afternoon. A chance of showers, mainly before 7am. Waves 1 ft or less. Friday Variable winds 5 kt or less. Mostly sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. |
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Water Temps: 57 at the mid-lake buoy southwest of Gull Island. 62 at the straits. |
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Coming up in our Community Calendar Report…
The airport runway project is wrapping up with flights set to resume Friday morning. We’ll have details on the reopening and what it means for Island transportation. Also today, opposition is growing to a proposed 1,500-acre solar development in Wexford County, Congress takes aim at a controversial farm chemical linked to Parkinson’s disease, military tribute banners are now flying along Main Street, and we’ll tell you the good reasons why this year’s fireworks will be on July 5th instead of the Fourth. Plus, the Currach Club is back on the water preparing for September’s Irish Feile.
…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: This year’s community fireworks display will be on July 5th. Poster from St. James Township Facebook post |
