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Two Habitat for Humanity chapters in Northern Michigan are merging to better tackle the region’s housing shortage. The Northwest Michigan and Cheboygan County chapters have joined to form Northwest Michigan Habitat for Humanity, serving Charlevoix, Emmet, and Cheboygan counties. Leaders say the merger will reduce costs, expand services, and boost construction and repair efforts. Both ReStores will remain open, with Cheboygan’s set to reopen this summer. AmeriCorps funding cuts are hitting Northern Michigan. Nearly 700 service members statewide were told to stop work after the Trump administration slashed $400 million in grants. Programs supporting climate work, disaster recovery, and local nonprofits have been halted. Michigan’s attorney general is suing to challenge the cuts, while groups like SEEDS and Crosshatch scramble to fill the gap. In southwest Michigan, five environmental groups are urging federal regulators to take a deeper look at the proposed restart of the Palisades nuclear plant. They want a full environmental impact statement, arguing the current review downplays earthquake risks and radioactive waste concerns. NRC judges are weighing whether to hold a hearing. Holtec, the plant’s owner, hopes to restart operations by year’s end, with federal approval expected by July. From D-C comes word that annual COVID shots will no longer be routinely approved for healthy kids and younger adults. That’s under new FDA guidance backed by the Trump administration. Instead, updates will target seniors and high-risk groups. Larger studies will be required before they are made available to others. Critics warn this could limit access and insurance coverage, especially for those in gray areas. A C-D-C panel is expected to weigh in next month. On the Island, a reminder that the Historical Society’s Kids Camp is on this summer from July 21st through the 25th. Signup is open. There’s a link in today’s script online. https://www.beaverislandhistory.org/kids-camp/ Also, you might want to note this on your calendar: The Elks Club is hosting a Gratitude Party for the Island’s storm workers. It’ll be at the lodge on May 31st from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m. All are welcome to attend. |
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Now, here’s a look at events happening on your Emerald Isle… First your meeting planner… Medical First Responder Classes continue Thursday evening at 7:00. AA meets Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 6:00. That’s it on the meeting front. More details and locations are in the calendar entries online. On the fun front today… Wednesday, there’s C-O-A bingo at 1:00 in the Hangout at the BIC Center. And at 4:30, Beaver Island E-M-S is offering C-P-R training at the BIC Center. It’s part of bringing B-I Fit back to the Island. The volunteers for that exercise program at school need to be C-P-R certified, so if you’d like to help with that or would just like to update your C-P-R certificate, this class is for you. Thursday, there’s Cardio Drumming at 10:00 in the Hangout 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. Also, Thursday and Friday mornings, there’ll be a line up of the crescent moon, Saturn and Venus in the eastern sky just before sunrise. Check out dark sky island dot org for more info. Highlights for the rest of the week include… After sunup on Friday, seniors and veterans can enjoy Coffee & Donuts at the BIC Center starting at 9 AM. Also at 9:00, the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program at the BIC Center up in the Hangout. At 5:00 Friday evening Warblers on the Water events kick off with a meet and greet at the BIC Center. It’s an opportunity to meet the field guides and fellow birders. There’ll be light refreshments and appetizers, plus souvenirs and program updates. Then, the BIC Center Theater lights up at 6:30 with Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson in the Big Year…a birding quest for the ages. It’s rated PG and will include an introduction by Warblers Field Trip leader Terry Grabill. [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, summer events get underway with Warblers on the Water Field Trips and the Second Annual BIC Center Golf Tournament. There are still a few open spots for both events. Sign up for birding field trips at tickets dotr bic center dot org. For golf, contact the BIC Center Front Desk. Tee time for the tournament is 9:00 a.m. Over at the library at 10:00 there’ll be flower planting at the library. Drop by to help create a native plant garden to be enjoyed all summer. At 1:30 at the BIC Center, Dr. Nancy Seefelt takes to the stage with the keynote presentation for Warblers on the Water. That’s open to all at no charge. Reserve at seat at tickets dot bic center dot org. Also Saturday, the Fiero Code Club is on at the library at 2 PM. At 4:00 the Tunes Cornhole Tournament is on at the Holy Cross Hall. And Saturday evening it’s the 4th Annual “Is Everybody Happy” party to benefit the Tunes Music Program. That’ll be at Holy Cross Hall starting at 5:00 p.m. 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, Warblers field trips continue. Sign up at tickets dot bic center dot org. There are services and Episcopal Mission at 9:00 and the Christian Church at 10:00, and Mass at Holy Cross at 12:15. And, if you are looking for a Sunday breakfast, the Wild Strawberry Café is now open Sunday mornings for the season 9 until 2. At 1:30, there’s a presentation by Terry Grabill on his Big Birding Year. It’s Tales from the Road and all are welcome. No charge. Reserve a seat at tickets dot bic center dot org. At 8:00 Sunday evening birders will gather at Whiskey Point Brewing Company for a farewell gathering. All are welcome to attend. And, the Moon reaches it’s Perigee…its closest approach to Earth…at about 10 p-m tonight. Looking ahead to highlights for next week… On Monday, Memorial Day, a week-long class on Nature Photography starts at the C-M-U Biological Station. Email the station at c-m-b-u-s at c-mich dot e-d-u to sign up. The Print Shop Museum will be open for a morning open house. Hours will run from 7:30 in the morning until 9:30. And this Monday evening is pizza night at the Beachcomber. Info on nature photography course: cmubs@cmich.edu Chair Yoga is on at 9:00 in the Hangout. Babes and Toddlers mix it up at the library at 10:00. And there’s Pickleball at 10:00 in the theater at the BIC Center. At 2:30, it’s Story Time at the library. |
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NAME OF DAY: The BIC Center Name of the Day is Mia. If that’s your name, head on down to the BIC Center to pick out a free drink of your choice. BIRTHDAYS: None on the official list, but 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, cleanup 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 1927, Detroit native Charles Lindbergh arrives in Paris to a crowd of tens of thousands completing the first ever nonstop solo transatlantic flight. In his plane named the Spirit of St. Louis Lucky Lindy has flown for 33 and a half hours and covering about 3,600 miles (1,000 of it through snow and sleet). Postage stamp commemorating Lindbergh’s record flight. USPS image |
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is hapless (adjective) [HAP-lus], an adjective that means “having no luck.” Hapless means exactly what you’d expect it to mean: “without hap”—hap being another word for fortune or luck. Hap comes from the Old Norse word for “good luck,” which is also the source of happen and happy. Hapless is often imbued with a touch of pity, humor, or both for those to whom it refers, as in “a hapless goalie who couldn’t block a shot to save his life.” |
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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 Charles Lindbergh, “Success is not measured by what a man accomplishes, but by the opposition he has encountered and the courage with which he has maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds.” |
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On a lighter note… What happens to a bad airplane joke? It never lands. |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Wednesday, May 21st, 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 Cloudy, with a high in the mid 50s and near 60 inland. East wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Tonight Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Thursday Partly sunny, with a high near 54. North wind 10 to 15 mph. Thursday Night A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Northwest wind around 10 mph. Friday A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 8am. Partly sunny, with a high near 54. Northwest wind around 10 mph. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 61. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. Memorial Day Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. Monday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. |
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Fire Danger Level on the Island set at Moderate. |
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Out on the Big Drink… |
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Today ENE wind 10 to 15 kt. Cloudy. Waves around 2 ft. Thursday N wind around 15 kt. A slight chance of showers. Waves around 2 ft. Friday NW wind around 15 kt. A slight chance of showers before 1pm. Waves 1 to 2 ft. |
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Water Temperature: The North Lake Michigan buoy is in southwest of Gull Island. It’s reporting 38 with two footers. |
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Photos from webcams at wvbi.net and mackinacbridge.org |
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