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Governor Gretchen Whitmer warned Tuesday of “undeniable signs of an ailing economy” and urged lawmakers to pass a state budget before the October 1 deadline. In a Capitol speech, she criticized tariffs for driving up costs and hurting Michigan’s auto and farm sectors, while blasting the GOP House budget plan for deep cuts she says would endanger key services. With unemployment among the nation’s highest and schools stuck waiting on funding, Whitmer called for compromise, saying the state can protect jobs, services, and free school meals if both sides come to the table. The Michigan House has passed a bill making it a crime to protest in the street without a permit. The measure, approved 61–42 mostly along party lines, would raise penalties from a $100 fine to up to 93 days in jail and a $5,000 fine. Supporters say it’s about safety and preventing traffic blockages, while opponents argue it would chill free speech and is unconstitutionally vague. The bill now heads to the Senate, where it faces long odds in the Democratic majority. Petoskey can now crack down on unsafe buildings after the city council unanimously approved a new ordinance on Monday. It gives officials power to act on dangerous or collapsing structures, recover demolition costs, and improve code enforcement. The ordinance targets hazards, not well-kept vacant buildings. The Island’s first project aimed at providing affordable housing is about ready to open. Located in the Karnes Woods just outside of town, it will offer one bedroom apartments for about $1,100 a month with three units available for $980 for those with qualifying income levels. A tour yesterday showed very nice interiors with high quality fixtures, stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. Although the units are modular and shipped mostly assembled to the Island, they are like stick built homes with standard residential construction including two by six exterior walls. Developer Vince Ebersoldt, a long-time Island visitor, says he hopes the project serves as a model for additional affordable housing for the Island. First move-ins are expected in October. |
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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… Wednesday, at the BIC Center, there’s Bingo at 1:00 in the Hangout. Book Club meets at the library at 3:00 to discuss Call me Athena by Colby Cedar Smith. And, there is BINGO at the G-F-C. Doors open for fellowship at 6:15. Games start at 7:00. 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. And, Thursday evenings are Burger & a Beer Night at the Shamrock. Highlights for the rest of the week include… 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. B-I-C-S Soccer and Volleyball squads head up to Big Bay for matches on Friday afternoon and Saturday. Both teams are coming off wins last week against Ojibwe here at home. [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. At 3:00 at the BIC Center, there’ll be a kick-off for the 2025-26 Big Read series with programming around the novel The Bear and the theme of survival. There’ll be books selected by the library paired with movies shown at the BIC Center and more. Copies of The Bear and a schedule of events will be distributed, and there will probably be snacks. Plus at 4:00, the first movie in the series shows: Magic Hour: It’s Lost in Barrens. 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, the Great Lake Islands Summit gets underway down at the C-M-U Biological Station. There’ll be participants from islands across the Great Lakes from Madeline Island in Lake Superior to the west and Wolf Island in Lake Ontario to the East. Also on Monday evening at 7:00, Gina Mangra will talk about foraging skills at the library. Learn how to survive in the wilderness as part of the library’s 2025-26 Big Read project. 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 at 6:00, it’s time to get quizzical at the BIC Center with the Island’s trivia game. Things get underway at 6:00. Sign your team up at tickets dot bic center dot org. And at 7:00, all Islanders are invited to a closing reception for the Great lake Island’s Alliance Summit out at the Biological Station. It’s a chance to talk with fellow islanders from other islands and enjoy some snacks and drinks. Wednesday, at the BIC Center, there’s Bingo at 1:00 in the Hangout. Thursday at 7:30, Lori E. Taylor will be at the library to present her creations while on the Island as part of the Artist in Residence program. Lori has been on the island hosting workshops and is also an author of several kids books including “Bamboozled on Beaver Island”. Example of Lori E. Taylor’s work. Image provided by the Beaver Island District Library |
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NAME OF DAY: The BIC Center Name of the Day is Todd. If that’s your name, come on into the BIC Center today to pick out a free drink of your choice. BIRTHDAYS: Emily Burton and Nancy Tritsch are on our list today. Happy Birthday to Nancy and Emily, 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 1787, following Benjamin Franklin’s speech, delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia sign the Constitution. The day will later be observed as I Am an American Day, which will be renamed to Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. Also on this day in 1849, Harriet Tubman escapes a Maryland plantation with two of her brothers, but returns after the men have second thoughts. Soon after, Harriet will escape to Philadelphia using the Underground Railroad. Over the next 11 years she’ll return to rescue upward of 70 enslaved people. And, in 1976, in Palmdale, California, NASA’s new reusable orbital space vehicle, the space shuttle, rolls out for its first public viewing. It’s christened the ‘Enterprise’ after a write-in campaign by ‘Star Trek fans.
Star Trek cast members on the dias as the Space Shuttle Enterprise rolls out. AP image from bing.com |
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is jovial (adjective) [JOH-vee-ul], an adjective that describes people as well as moods, attitudes, etc., that are cheerful and jolly. In Roman astrology, people were thought to share the personality traits of the god whose planet was rising when they were born. Jupiter, the largest planet, was named for the sky god Jove (pronounced JOHV), bringer of light and joy. From him we get the word jovial, meaning cheerful and jolly — the opposite of saturnine (pronounced SAT-ur-nine), a gloomy trait tied to his father Saturn. |
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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 Harriet Tubman: “Every great dream begins with a dreamer.” |
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On a lighter note… What did Bugs Bunny say after beaming aboard the Enterprise? “What’s up, Spock?” |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Wednesday, September 17th, 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 69/75. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Tonight Isolated showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60/59. West wind around 5 mph becoming north in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Thursday Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 67/71. North wind around 10 mph. Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 54/51. North wind around 10 mph. Friday Sunny, with a high near 64/68. East wind around 10 mph. Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 55/50. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 67/70. Saturday Night A chance of showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58/55. Sunday A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 69/73. Sunday Night A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60/57. Monday A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69/72. Monday Night A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59/55. Tuesday Partly sunny, with a high near 69/73. |
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Fire Danger Level on the Island set at Low. AQI this morning was 58.
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Out on the Big Drink… |
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Today S wind 5 to 10 kt becoming WSW in the afternoon. Sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. Thursday N wind around 10 kt. Partly sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. Friday E wind around 10 kt. Sunny. Waves around 1 ft. |
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Water Temperature: It’s 64 in Little Traverse Bay. The North Lake Michigan buoy southwest of Gull is reporting 64 with less than one-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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Coming up in today’s Community Calendar Report: Governor Whitmer warns of an ailing economy, the Michigan House votes to criminalize unpermitted protests, Petoskey cracks down on unsafe buildings, and Beaver Island’s first affordable housing project nears completion. All of those stories plus 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: Example of Lori E. Taylor’s work. She’ll be at the library next at 7:30 Thursday. Image provided by the Beaver Island District Library |
