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First some news… In Lansing, Michigan’s Legislature is at a near standstill. Major policy proposals — from government transparency reforms to school cellphone bans — are stalled as Democrats and Republicans remain locked in a budget standoff. Since January, lawmakers have introduced more than 1,300 bills, but only 12 have reached Governor Whitmer’s desk — the slowest pace in decades. Each party is blaming the other for the logjam: House Speaker Matt Hall insists there’s “no impasse,” while Senate Democrats say hundreds of bipartisan bills are languishing in the House. With an October 1 deadline looming, pressure is on to pass a budget and break the gridlock. In T-C, the future of two landmark buildings — the Bijou by the Bay and the Carnegie Building — is up for debate. Parks and Recreation commissioners meet Thursday night to discuss a possible request-for-proposals to find new long-term tenants. City leaders will review repair needs and could approve an RFP process as early as October 20th. The Bijou has sat empty since the Film Festival left last year, while the Carnegie — home to Crooked Tree Arts Center and others — faces significant updates. On the Island, with the Feile coming up, here’s some road closure information. Main Street will be closed between the Print Shop Museum and Holy Cross Hall from 11 in the morning until 11 at night both Friday and Saturday. But, Bonner Avenue going past Holy Cross Church will be open for access to parking at the beach lot. Want to help kids practice reading? Join the Library’s Reading Pals program! Students read to volunteers once or twice a month — and they love it. Call the library to sign up. |
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Now, here’s a look at events happening on your Emerald Isle… First your meeting planner. B-I-C-S Committee of the Whole meets tonight at 5:30. AA Meets Thursday and Saturday at 6:00. And, that’s it on the meeting front through the end of next week. On the fun front today… Wednesday, yoga is on at the BIC Center at 9:30 with a restorative session. Also at the BIC Center, there’s Bingo at 1:00 in the Hangout. And, there’s BINGO Wednesday evening at the Gregg Fellowship Center. Doors open for fellowship at 6:15. Games start at 7:00. In our dark sky, our constellation tour continues, tonight with Lyra, by the star Vega at the top of the summer triangle of Vega, Altair and Deneb. Check Dark Sky Island dot org for info on how to spot Lyra and the three stars of the summer triangle. 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. Also Thursday evening, it’s Burger and a Beer Night at the Shamrock. Highlights for the rets of the week include… Friday, B-I-C-S Soccer and Volley squads are in Hanahville for games. On the Island, Senior + Vets Coffee + Donuts is on at the BIC Center from 8:30 to 11:30. Also Friday 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. Basic Flow Yoga is at 9:30 in the theater at the BIC Center. C-O-A has a Walkersize session at 10:30, a walk from Heritage Park to the St. James Campground and back. Irish Feile registration opens up at 10:30 at the Bic Center. Friday evening the BIC Center stage is alive again with the Byrnes Brothers at 6:00 and Crossbow at 8:00. Both are Feile events with a Feile Wristband required for entry and first come first served seating. [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 on out by the lighthouse at Whiskey Point. That starts at 10:00. Also at 10:00, Feile Registration opens up at the BIC Center ahead of a full line up of Feile events at the BIC Center: At 10:30 is the Beaver Island Irish-American Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. At 12:30, there’s a presentation on Arranmore: The Rest of the Story. At 2:30, there’s an Irish Language Workshop with Catriona Kenndy. There’ll be songs and stories with Jerry Early and Arranmore friends at 5:00. And, two more concerts. At 7:00 Rory Makem takes to the stage and at 9:00 it’s the Tartan terrors. Of course, there’s also music at the Hall, the Shamrock, the Beachcomber, Wild Strawberry Cafe and Whiskey Point Brewing Company along with Currach Races, contests and more. Check a festival schedule online or available at the BIC Center front desk for details. 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, there’s Summer Yoga at the BIC Center. 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. |
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NAME OF DAY: The BIC Center Name of the Day is Kayla. If that’s your name, come on into the BIC Center today to pick out a free drink of your choice. BIRTHDAYS: Ryley Maudrie and Ken Zick are on our list today. Happy Birthday to Ken and Ryley, 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 it is very busy in town when the ferry arrives, and the warm weather means lots of folks at the public beach plus hikers and bikers everywhere. So, let’s be careful out there. |
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On this date in 1783, the Treaty of Paris is signed, officially ending the American Revolution and granting Great Britain’s former colonies their independence. Representing the United States in the French capital were Benjamin Franklin and John Adams. Franklin had badgered the British for two years to make sure Isle Royale in Lake Superior was included within U.S. boundaries having heard the remote island was rich in copper. The British finally agreed to push the border line north around it. Britain’s Prime Minister, Lord Rockingham, was so exasperated he reportedly quipped: “Mr. Franklin, I don’t give a damn if that island is solid copper. If the treaty conference had lasted another week, you Yankees would have insisted on running your infernal boundary line around Ireland.”
Map showing international boundary based on the Treaty of Paris going around Isle Royale. Image from Google Maps. |
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is trivial (adjective) [TRIV-ee-ul]. Something described as trivial is of little worth or importance. The word trivial comes from Latin trivialis (trih-VEE-ah-lis), meaning “commonplace.” Its root is trivium (TREE-vee-um) — a crossroads where three roads meet, places filled with everyday chatter. Adopted into English in the 1500s, trivial came to mean something barely worth mentioning. But whether it’s important or not—that’s always in the eye of the beholder. |
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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 Benjamin Franklin: “If everyone is thinking alike, then no one is thinking.” |
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On a lighter note… Have you heard? Finland just closed its borders. Now, no one can cross the finish line. |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Wednesday, September 3rd, 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—Beach Hazard Warning in Effect Showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly before 5pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5pm. Temperature rising to 64 by midday then falling to around 58 by 5pm. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Tonight A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48 by the water/46 inland. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Thursday A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 59 by the water, 57 inland. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph. Thursday Night A chance of showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2am. Low around 50/47. Southwest wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Friday Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 11am, then showers between 11am and 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. High near 61/65. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph becoming northwest in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Friday Night A 30 percent chance of showers before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51/48. Breezy. Saturday A 40 percent chance of showers after 8am. Partly sunny, with a high near 61/64. Saturday Night A chance of showers before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50/46. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 61/64. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 52/48. Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 65/69. Monday Night A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56/53. Tuesday A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66/70. |
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Fire Danger Level on the Island set at Low. AQI this morning was 51, which puts us into the yellow zone.
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Out on the Big Drink… |
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Today SSW wind 15 to 20 kt becoming NW in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 kt. Showers and thunderstorms before 1pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 1pm and 4pm, then a chance of showers after 4pm. A chance of waterspouts, mainly between 7am and 3pm. Waves 3 to 5 ft. Thursday W wind around 15 kt, with gusts as high as 25 kt. A slight chance of showers. A slight chance of waterspouts before 1pm. Waves 2 to 3 ft. Friday S wind around 20 kt becoming WNW in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 30 kt. Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 1pm and 4pm, then a chance of showers after 4pm. Waves 3 to 4 ft. |
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Water Temperature: It’s 66 in Little Traverse Bay. The North Lake Michigan buoy southwest of Gull is reporting 69 with than four to 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 lawmakers face gridlock with a budget deadline looming, Traverse City debates the future of the Bijou and Carnegie, and we’ve got road closure details for the Feile. Plus — how you can help kids build reading skills. Plus the BIC Center name of the day, birthdays, a look at this date in history, a word of the day and a bad joke for the day are all on the way next. [timecheck] |
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Today’s featured image: The ferry dock looks like summer this morning (and feels like it), but it may feel more like fall by the end of the day. Image from WVBI Island Airways Webcam |
