| Charlevoix County Transit has announced that they are eliminating fares and adding delivery service for Beaver Island. This is aimed at helping those who need assistance getting food and other essential supplies. Delivery of groceries, food pantry, and senior meals will begin immediately. To arrange for delivery, please call at least one day in advance to allow for scheduling; same day requests for delivery will be scheduled based on appointment availability. For grocery and meals that require payment, the items must be paid for before Transit will pick up and deliver. For additional information, please contact the dispatch office at 231.582.6900.
The Beaver Island N-E-A Big Read project has announced that their programs, originally planned for May, will be postponed until fall. Rehearsals were underway for the BIG Read presentation of Thornton Wilder’s play Our Town at the BIC Center in early May as the headline event for a full month of programs. Director Jacquie LaFreniere says things will get organized again after we get past the recommendation that everyone stay at home. We’ll keep you posted.
Closures on the island now include the library and soon, Power’s Hardware. The library will be closed through the 30th. They are working on plans to make a “take out” service available for books. Power’s is open through 3 pm on the 21st. They’ll bring things out to your car if you prefer. Then, they will be closed until further notice.
Congressman Bergman’s office has issued a fact sheet with info for small businesses about responding to the COVID-19 crisis. According to the information, just passed legislation requires even small businesses to provide additional sick and other leave support, but there are programs in place intended to cover those expenses. The fact sheet also includes information on several small business loan programs and other support for small businesses from both the state and federal government. There is a link to the fact sheet in our news section on the W-V-B-I website at W-V-B-I dot net. Just click on news in the menu and look for today’s script . [Here’s the link: https://www.beaverislandassociation.org/2020/03/18/resources-for-small-businesses-during-coronavirus-outbreak/?fbclid=IwAR0c107BXHDY8hQhoT-d2dtStjgssOHtfpwVE16hjor7WF0RMQufCZtRglc]
If you are planning to head to the mainland to take care of any business at state or county offices, you should call ahead to make sure the office will be open and to schedule an appointment if required. So far we know that the Secretary of State’s office as well as the Charlevoix County offices are both requiring advance appointments.
Townships have issued a joint press release that details what they are doing to respond to COVID-19. All non-essential Township meetings have been cancelled. There will be a meeting of the Beaver Island Emergency Services Authority on Thursday at 2 at the Peaine Township Hall. The public is invited to attend by calling in to a conference line. The number is 415-464-6800. Then you’ll need to punch in 49782# for the participant code.
C-O-A office is open for now and director Kathy Ehinger is available to help you with errands if you are a senior concerned about going out. Just give her a call at the office at 448-2124 or after hours on her cell phone at 231-620-5199.
The Health Center has established protocols for responding for patients that may have the virus. There is a separate screening room and a separate entrance will be used. Remember, if you think you may have the virus, you should call the Health Center at 2275 before coming in and follow their directions. For more tips from our health center pros on what to do, listen to our Beaver Island Perspectives program with them first broadcast on Friday. It’s available as a podcast on W-V-B-I dot net. Just go there and click on the podcasts menu.
Both Island Airways and Fresh Air are continuing passenger and cargo service for the island. They ask you not to fly, though if you have any symptoms or know you have been exposed.
Dalwhinnie’s and the Shamrock plan to be open for take out service. Dalwhinnie’s service is clustered around lunchtime from 10 to 1 Wednesday through Sunday with a limited menu-but they are trying to accommodate special requests. Shamrock will be open Thursday through Saturday from 5 to 7 with a single item on the menu each day. Call the restaurants for details and to place your order.
The BIC Center will remain open, but until further advice from the health department, no more than five guests can be in the building at any one time. As a result, all activities have been cancelled, but the center will be available if you need internet access, a PC or a printer. The restrooms will also be available. Small group meetings are OK, too, but you should coordinate those with the front desk. All other activities are cancelled for now, so no Pickleball, no Games Galore or Arthritis Foundation Exercise program. And, no movies. All of this is subject to change of course. We’ll keep you posted.
In state news, the number of known cases now stands at over 100. And, the first COVID-19 caused death in Michigan has been recorded. A man in his 50’s passed away in Wayne County yesterday. That’s just over a week since the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in Michigan. |
