B.I. News on the 'Net, April 4-10, 2011

Beaver Island Wildlife Club & Michigan DNRE

Public Meeting: Antler Point Restriction Plan for Deer Hunting on Beaver Island

Beaver Island Community Center

April 11, 2011

I. Introduction of Special Guests

A. John Madigan, NRC Commissioner

B. John Mantonich, NRC Commissioner

C. Russ Mason, MDNR Wildlife Division Chief

D. Rex Ainsliee, Supervisor, MDNRE N. Michigan Mngmnt Unit

E. Brian Mastenbrook, Wildlife Biologist, Gaylord

II. Background of Deer Management Analysis and Plans for Beaver Island, Jeffrey Powers DVM, President, Beaver Island Wildlife Club

III. Discussion of DNR Deer Management Plans

Brian Mastenbrook

IV. Discussion of Wildlife Certification & QDM from DNR Perspective

Russ Mason

V. Q & A from Audience, Panel Discussion

Russ Mason, Brian Mastenbrook, Jeffrey Powers

VI. Wrap up

Emerald Isle Second Trip

Wendy Anne in the Early Morning

Eagles on the Ice Again

Veteran's Memorial

St. James Township Meeting, April 5, 2011

The St. James Board had a very intense conversation about the sewer system repairs that are necessary. The tanks out on Donegal Bay Road need to be coated on the inside with a substance that will prevent the acid in the waste from destroying the cement tanks at the the site. The tanks are approximately 42x12 (2 tanks) and one somewhat smaller. The cost to the users of the sewer system will be in the neighborhood of $60,000. St. James Board passed a motion for BIEMS and BIRHC to hire an FAA consultant to help resolve the emergency air transport situation. A change in the Michigan law required the townships to dissolve the Planning Commission and then recreate the Planning Commission under that new legislation.

Video of the Entire Meeting is HERE

First Barge Load of the Season

Matt Fogg and his crew, Mike Weede and Dusty Cushman, spent some time getting things ready for the this first trip. The first thing necessary was to break up some more ice so that the barge could get through the harbor from the St. James Marine dock to the Beaver Island Boat Company Dock. This probably would have been easier had the temperatures been a little warmer for the last few days.

The BI Boat Company ferry, the Emerald Isle left right on schedule this morning on its second trip of the season...

You can see in this picture that there is still ice between the Wendy Anne's dock and the point, although a track was broken out yesterday. You can see from the picture below that the wind was blowing, but it wasn't in the correct direction to blow the ice out of the harbor.

Veteran's Memorial flags

The day was warming up and the wind was blowing at a good clip. A nice day for a trip to Charlevoix and then on to Ironton.

Discussion prior to embarking...

Breaking the ice near the dock.......breaking ice in front of the barge....... pulling in to attach the barge

Casting off in preparation for pulling out.

Pulling away from the dock and getting oriented into the proper direction....

Big sheet of ice pushes a couple pilings

Through the harbor......................................Out of the harbor.....................................................and on its way...

We look forward to the return trip to see what the Wendy Anne may bring back to the island. Safe travels.....We hope your time getting into Ironton is not too tough...

Video of the Barge and Wendy Anne HERE

SENEY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

1674 Refuge Entrance Road

Seney, MI 49883

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 6, 2011

Contact: Mark Vaniman 906-586-9851, ext. 11

Access to Hat Island to be Limited in 2011

The Refuge manager has decided that, for the 2011 field season, access to Hat Island will be restricted to refuge personnel and Central Michigan University researchers in order to monitor and conduct population surveys.Under the terms of a Public Resource Depredation Order, populations of Double Crested Cormorants are being managed in the Great Lakes. Numbers of these fish eating birds have increased dramatically and are impacting island vegetation and may be causing damage to the fishery.Seney National Wildlife Refuge is responsible for conserving migratory birds and their habitats on Hat, Gull, Shoe and Pismire Islands in the Beaver Archipelago, all part of Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge (NWR).

Since 2007, Refuge Staff has been working with Michigan DNR and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-Wildlife Services to help in their efforts to control the double-crested cormorant population in Lake Michigan. Control efforts have been conducted in a manner to eliminate or reduce disturbance to co-nesting colonial birds on Refuge islands. Each year since 2007, USDA-Wildlife Services has been issued a Refuge Special Use Permit to conduct cormorant control, including egg oiling and removal of adult birds from the Refuge islands. Access to Hat Island has been restricted due to the presence of one of the largest colonies of Caspian terns in the northern Great Lakes. In 2005, researchers from Central Michigan University (CMU )initiated a study to monitor and conduct population counts of the nesting colonial birds on Refuge islands. This study, authorized bya Refuge Special Use Permit, included population counts and collection of diet data on cormorants. Information was also collected on numbers and species of other colonial nesting birds on the islands. Other species included Herring Gulls, Caspian Terns, Ring-billed Gulls and Great Blue Herons. Last year, the Refuge granted USDA-Wildlife Services access to Hat Island to perform lethal control methods on cormorants. Personnel from USDA-Wildlife Services conducted their activities in a manner as described above –to eliminate or reduce impacts on other colonial nesters.

Although all colonial nesting species on Hat Island successfully fledged chicks in 2010, numbers were less than expected. Biologists from the Refuge, USDA and CMU are working together to determine why nesting efforts were not as successful as previous years. In response to the reduced hatch of gulls and terns, refuge managers are going to adopt a conservative approach regarding activities on Hat Island in 2011. To that end, access to Hat Island will be restricted to CMU researchers in order to monitor and conduct population surveys. Access to Gull, Shoe and Pismire Islands will not change. The Michigan Islands NWR is not open to the public except for maritime emergencies. Shoe and Pismire Islands are designated wilderness areas.

As an active participant in the effort to control cormorant numbers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will consider options for assisting USDA-Wildlife Services on and around the Refuge Islands. Future decisions regarding access and population control will be based on a review of information gathered this year. For more information regarding the Refuge and cormorants contact Refuge Manager Mark Vaniman at 906-586-9851 x11 or email Seney@fws.gov .

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov .

Cormorant Management Program Volunteers Sought

Monday, April 11, 2011, at 5:30 p.m.

The Beaver Island Wildlife Club in conjunction with the US Department of Agriculture-Wildlife Services will be conducting a training session for the spring Cormorant Management Program at the Community Center at 5:30 Monday April 11th.

Font Lake Islands to Be Named

April 7, 2011

Mr. Larry Pedersen
Planning & Operations Supervisor for Forest Management Division

pedersenl@michigan.gov

Dear Mr. Pedersen,
As you may know, the U. S. Board on Geographic Names is responsible by law for adjudicating decisions regarding geographic names for use by the departments and agencies of the Federal government. The Board has received a proposal to make official the name Brothers Little Islands for a group of floating islands in Font Lake on Beaver Island in Charlevoix County , Michigan . Because local acceptance of any name is very important to the Board, we would like your opinion regarding this proposal. We also ask that you share this request with the appropriate offices or members within your county.

For more detailed information regarding this name issue, including a link to an online map showing the location of the islands, please click on Review List 405 at the Board's website at:

http://geonames.usgs.gov/ domestic/quarterly_list.htm

In order for the Board to vote on this issue in a timely manner, we would appreciate hearing from your office by May 6, 2011. Please note that if no response is received, the Board will consider your opinion to be “neutral” and will make a decision that might affect the use of names in your area of interest. If you have any questions or need additional time to conduct your research, please do not hesitate to contact us. If your office is not the correct one to contact on this issue, we would appreciate it if you would let us know, and if possible, forward this to the appropriate office.

Thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter and we look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

J. A. Messenger
Geographic Names Researcher
(573) 308-3690
jmessenger@usgs.gov

For Lou Yost, Executive Secretary
U.S. Board on Geographic Names
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 523
Reston, VA 20192-0523
(703) 648-4552
(703) 648-4549 fax

Betty VanderLinde
Of Dexter
Formerly of Kalamazoo

Passed away Friday, April 1, 2011. Betty was born May 23, 1930 in Kalamazoo, the only daughter of the late Peter and Joanna VanDalen and lived in the Kalamazoo area for almost 60 years. On January 28, 1949, she married Gerald VanderLinde. Betty was a former member of Third Christian Reformed Church and was active in Calvinettes and other church activities.

She loved to bake, and was always willing to host her children's activities. After Gerald's retirement, they enjoyed their summers on Beaver Island with their many dear friends, and their winters in Arizona with other friends and family.

Surviving are her husband of 62 years, Gerald VanderLinde; two children, Cheryl (Ron) Gulbranson and Rick (Pam) VanderLinde; two grandchildren, Adrienne and Grayson VanderLinde; many other dear friends and family.

A memorial service for Betty will be held on Friday, April 8, 2011 at 2:00 PM in the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Westside Chapel, 3926 S. 9th St. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Beaver Island Rural Health Center (BIRHC). Please visit www.langelands.com for online obituary, directions, register book and condolences. (269) 343-1508

Library News April 2011

The ferry has started and spring is officially here on the island. In that mode, the Beaver Island District Library is gearing up in anticipation of a busy summer. We've been weeding through the book shelves, sorting through all the magazine subscriptions and winnowing out old VHS videos (please keep in mind that we are not accepting any more VHS tapes). Our continuous book sale table is sway-backed from the weight so please stop in and fill up a bag for only $2 or purchase a new book for $3/or 2 for $5 from the book truck. This past year the Book Sale garnered the library a grand total of $1400!! The best it's ever done.

We have bids posted for cement work. We're planning on replacing all of the front sidewalk and putting the bike rack on concrete instead of dirt which will certainly help keep our carpets a bit cleaner. Jim Wojan will be removing one of the huge pines in the Memorial Garden which was damaged last fall in the big storm, before it comes down on its own causing even more damage. We're hoping to replace the old benches in the garden area that were made by Tom Morland at least twenty years ago.

Have you checked out our bulletin board in the entry way? All upcoming meeting schedules are posted there as well as important announcements from various island organizations. While we do not allow personal signs, if you belong to a local organization and want to publicize an upcoming event, please feel free to post it here. Signs should be no larger than 8 ½ by 11 and no more than one per event. Again, no personal signage is allowed and will be removed should it appear on our bulletin board.

Gas Price Hike Shock

Imagine the surprise at arriving today, April 7, 2011, at the station to fill up the car to find that the cost of gasoline in the last few days has risen $.50 per gallon. Yes, that's right fifty cents per gallon, and the fuel barge hasn't left the Island yet for this boating and fuel hauling season. The imagination tell us that this is only the beginning of the increase in cost of gasoline for the Island in the near future. Most were expecting the price to increase after the first fuel barge trip, but there's no waiting. Five dollar per gallon fuel cost on Beaver Island is just around the corner. Time to get out the bicycle and get in shape while saving fuel.

4th Annual Easter Egg Scramble and visits with The Easter Bunny
Saturday April 16th at 1:00 pm Beaver Island Community School Gym

Please bring your Easter baskets and don't forget your cameras!

Proud Sponsors:
AMVETS Post 46 Ladies Auxiliary An Occasion To Remember Beaver Island Boat Company bibabes+2 Martin Gas & Oil The Shamrock Bar and Restaurant McDonough's Market

Kentucky Derby Hat Decorating Day!

All you ladies who have always wanted a fancy hat for Derby Day,

Please join in the fun...

Tuesday May 3rd at 1:00 pm

at The Shamrock

There is a $20.00 donation to cover the cost of your hat, flowers and feathers.

(Additional flowers and feathers will be available for an additional cost).

$5.00 from each donation will go to benefit BICAF

(Beaver Island Community Activities Fund)

This activity is being held to raise funds

for the children's events.

Please bring your own hot glue gun and glue sticks, if possible.

There is a sign up sheet at The Shamrock.

Please sign up by Tuesday April 26th

and don't forget to wear your hat to The Shamrock

on Derby Day, Saturday May 7 th,

for a chance to win a prize!!

Any questions, please call Tina Walker 448-2020

Dick Goller Passes Away

GOLLER - Dick Goller, 80, of Cedar Springs, departed peacefully from this life on Monday, April 4, 2011. Dick is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 62 years, Betty; his brother, John Goller and wife, Peggy; his sister, Emma Gebhardt; and sisters-in-law, Mary Goller-Kilts, Donna Verburg and Helen Hyrns; his children, Carol Brooks, Diane Goller and husband, Hon. David Murkowski, Daniel Goller, Edward Goller and wife, Amy; grandchildren, Heather and Darrell Huntoon, Richard Goller, III, Sarah Goller, Katherine Murkowski, Anne Murkowski, Meghan Huntoon, Branden Goller, Adam Goller and Anna Goller; and many dear nieces, nephews and neighbors.

Dick was preceded in death by his son, Richard and his brother, Oscar. Dick lived a full and happy life. He grew up on the family farm in Cedar Springs and was a championship football player in high school. He ran away from home and joined the Army near the end of World War II, wanting to join his two older brothers who were already serving in Europe and in the South Pacific. After his discharge, Dick joined the Michigan National Guard and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Dick was elected to the City Council in Cedar Springs in 1961 and served as Mayor Pro Tem during 1961 and 1962, and then as Mayor from 1963 until 1965. He worked for nearly 60 years in the plumbing and heating trades and was, for many years, a proud member of Local 174 of the Pipefitters Union. Dick lived his life to its fullest.

He never met a stranger and he loved a joke and a good laugh. He loved to fly his planes, and he always said that if he'd had a chance to fly in the war, he would have made it his career. He loved doing things for others and he cherished his family, especially his grandchildren.

A memorial service with the Reverend Steven Frentz presiding, will be held on Thursday, April 7, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, 13603 Northland Drive, NE, Cedar Springs, MI 49319 www.blisswitterspike.com where the family will receive friends and relatives during visitation on Wednesday, April 6, 2011 from 2 to 4 and from 6 to 8 pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Bethel Lutheran Church in Howard City. www.blisswitterspike.com Bliss Witters Pike Funeral Home

The Ice Classic

"The tower is still standing and there is lots of ice surrounding it. The record date was April 9th and it may go beyond that this year," said Bob Tidmore.

Perhaps the tower has a little list toward the east, but it's still standing.

First Boat of the Season Returns to the Island

With the shelves of the grocery store getting a little light on some items, the first boat of the year is always a welcome sight. The shelves will begin to be restocked with some items that have been missing for a short while now. The stock of the Purina Dog Food will be replenished along with several others. The Charlevoix dock of the Beaver Island Boat Company will probably be empty for the first and last time this season with this first boat run.

The Emerald Isle on its return to the Island on April 6, 2011.

Coming in the harbor...

Coming in and turning to back into its place...

There are some good size chunks of ice that are in the way....

Tie-ing up and starting to unload..

Meeting the boat and getting off the boat.......Yes, dear, that's the last one!

Unloading the freight...It's great to have the boat running again!

Video of the Emerald Isle's Return trip into Paradise Bay

First Boat of the Season

The Emerald Isle left its Beaver Island dock headed for Charlevoix this morning, leaving the dock at exactly 8:20 a.m. as stated on the schedule. Its leaving was greeted by many at Whiskey Point. One saying, "It's great to see the season get underwy. I'll be here when it comes back too." That's the feeling of those who are still on the Island after some have gone on vacation due to Spring Break at the Beaver Island Community School. There was only one place to have coffee this morning. The Station was the only place to have coffee because Dahlwhinnie's and the Shamrock are closed for spring break.

Video First Boat Leaving of the Season

Emerald Isle on the schedule again! Leaving the Island headed for Charlevoix!

Video of the First Boat taken from the Emerald Isle

Emerald Isle Test Run

Whether this was a test run or a run to clear ice out of the channel for the Wednesday boat, it was sure great to see the Emerald Isle running again. This marks the beginning of the ferry season, which starts tomorrow morning, Wednesday, April 6, 2011. The first boat off the island will take with it a lot of empy bottles and empty cans that have accumulated over the winter.

The first boat leaves Beaver Island at 8:20 a.m. and returns leaving Charlevoix at 11:30 a.m. It should be entering the harbor about 1:30 p.m. tomorrow.

Video of the Emerald Isle Test Run and Movement of Ice

Frank Solle's Eagle Picture

According to Frank, he was taking some pictures of the ferry boat out there at Whiskey Point, and this eagle just flew right over him. This is a young eagle.

Eagles on the Ice

A phone call from Cindy Cushman interrupted dinner, but it was well worth the interruption. "If you walk down my driveway with your camera, you can get a picture of the eagles on the ice," Cindy said. She was exactly right. In the waning daylight, this photographer tried to sneak up on the eagles by walking quietly and moving slowly on the Left's porch, trying to get as close to the eagles as possible. Several pictures were snapped from this location. Then a sneaky snake walk alongside the old Gillespie garage, Cindy and Dusty's home now, and a few more pictures were taken.

Here is the scene from the public playground.

From Left's deck and porch...

From alongside the Cushman-Gillespie fill dock, slightly closer.

There seems to be a population explosion of eagles on the island, but this is more likely just these raptors being more visible in the town area. Whatever the reason, they are fascinating to many.

PUBLIC MEETING REGARDING NATURAL RESOURCES

The Public is invited to an open meeting to be held at Peaine Township Hall on Thursday, April 14, at 7 pm. regarding the future of the former township commission, Beaver Island 's Natural Resources/Ecotourism Commission (NREC).

The meeting is a result of a motion approved by the Peaine Township Board to hold their discussion of reconsideration of the dissolution of the commission for a 90 day period during which the NREC would meet with parties who promoted the disbanding of the NREC and the public to provide an opportunity to discuss their concerns and ideas about the NREC's plans and structure. At the Peaine Township meeting, residents spoke in favor of reinstatement and in opposition.

The purpose is of the meeting is to discuss the future and to determine from public input and discussion if a consensus can be reached on how to move forward.

Note: For those who want more information on the NREC prior to the meeting:

The NREC's plan for the management of natural resources is a draft which is not in final form and which was still being discussed by the commission. It would have been presented to the public at public hearings and to the township plan commissions and township boards for approval. A copy of the most current draft is on the Peaine Township website and copies are available at the library. A copy of the resolution establishing the NREC is also on the website.

Peaine Website--NREC Page HERE

Inland Lakes and Outer Island Ice Going Away

A drive by Font Lake on Sunday morning, April 3, 2011, showed the progress of the melting ice. Font Lake is pretty much without ice today. So that brings up the question about the ice between the islands. A few pictures show that the ice is moving out as well as melting.

Garden Island from Gull Harbor.....view from Donegal Bay......High Island from Donegal Bay

Forest View Apartments Construction

UPDATE: The majority of the inside walls of the Forest View Apartment Building has been prepped for the first coat of primer. The drywall work seems to be completed. There isn't much to see at this stage of the construction project on the inside. The outside is in process of being sided. Here are a few pictures and examples:

The entrance..............the north side has siding

The inside drywall work completed.......

Video Walk-through of Senior Housing and Glimpse of Siding

Floor Plans of the Forest View Apartments

Floor plan of the entire building (large view)

Floor plan of just the common areas (large view)

Floor plan of one bedroom apartment

Lake Michigan Level Way Down

Based upon the information available at this time, the level of Lake Michigan is down about 20 inches from the level of last year at this time. This doesn't seem like much until you take a walk on the shoreline and see the areas that were under water last year, but aren't under water this year. A perfect example of this is seen at Gull Harbor. One rock that was surrounded with water last year is not this year.

The rock in the foreground in this picture was surrounded by water about ankle deep last spring and summer. It is now completely high and dry. If you walk from the edge of the waterline that you can see from last year, it is a full fifteen paces, or approximately 45 feet to the edge of the ice. Twenty inches in heighth does not equal twenty inches in shoreline. In this case, twenty inches of height is equivalent to 45 feet more shoreline at this one location at Gull Harbor.

This drop of water levels is supposed to continue well into the summer months unless we get a great deal of rain. What this means in some areas is a much longer walk to get to the water from your shoreline property. This may explain the reason that the Neah Bay did not come alongside the BI Boat Company Dock or get any closer to the dock than some onlookers suggested.

If you look in the two pictures above taken at the public beach in town, you will see that the areas surrounded by snow and ice are going to be high and dry. At least this is the length of the water level drop as shown in the harbor area. The old lumber company dock pilings are not covered with water or ice either. It will be an interesting summer if the water levels continue to go down as predicted.

USCG Cutter Neah Bay Breaks Ice in the Harbor

Specific Information on the Cutter can be found HERE

After spending forty-five minutes out at Gull Harbor waiting for the USCG Cutter, several people left and headed home. It wasn't five minutes later that the vessel could be seen from Whiskey Point. Here it is coming from afar and then up close:

Then a quick few views from the trip around the harbor to the yacht dock:

The Neah Bay stopped about fifteen feet short of the Beaver Island Boat Company Dock. The cutter spent a a lot of time working to break up the ice in the harbor. All that is needed now is a good wind from the proper direction to help clear out the ice.

The first pass was in toward the BIBCO dock. Then it did a few somewhat perpendicular cuts. Then it began what appeared to be concentric circles getting larger and larger in diameter.

The crew members kept their eys open to make sure they didn't get too close to the BIBCO dock.

Those on the dock watching were somewhat puzzled that the Neah Bay didn't come closer and dock at the BIBCO dock.

There were lots of watchers including the TV crews with a very nice camera..

Ice going every which way, and lots of spray could be seen off the Neah Bay's bow..

Thank you the crew of USCG Neah Bay for their efforts in helping the island get ready for the ferry season.

Four Video Clips of the Neah Bay Ice-Breaking Process

Entering the Harbor

Inside the Harbor and Approaching the BIBCO dock

2nd pass toward the dock and crowd of onlookers

Making a concentric circle pattern and Widening the track at the mouth of the harbor

Dave Broder's Memorial Service on C-Span 3

The Dave Broder memorial service will take place at noon 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5, 2011. It can be viewed on C-Span 3, Webcast on C-Span, and on the Washington Post website.

Stoney Acre Celebrates the 25th Anniversary

Marilyn and Liam Racine's 9th Anniversary at Stoney Acre

When Bill and Marge Wagner started the Stoney Acre Grill, named after their farm, there was no way for them to know that this business would grow and change so much over the years. With several different owners over the last twenty-five years including Nancy and Roger Sommers, the restaurant has been known for many different positive menu choices. Bill and Marge could not have known how far this hip-roof barn could go toward providing another excellent dining choice to the residents of and the visitors to Beaver Island.

Marilyn and Liam have had the Stoney Acre Grill for the last nine years, and in that time have expanded the menu as well as adding on the Donegal Danny's Pub. The food is still excellent with many different menu items than were even thought of by Bill and Marge or Nancy and Roger. Friday night, their anniversary night, offers the Perch Dinner special, and this is a very popular item. No matter what the special is for the particular night, the entire dinner menu is available. It is quite amazing that this large menu comes out of this small kitchen.

Marilyn and Liam, Congratulations on your ninth anniversary at Stoney Acres! Keep up the excellent work!

It's not too late to get out and go to their anniversary! It's Friday night, tonight, April 1, 2011, and this is posted at 5:30 p.m.

Marilyn and Liam Thank the Community for its support!

Video posted at 6 p.m., April 1, 2011

Beaver Island Wildlife Club Has Facebook Page

See it HERE

Five Island Residents Successfully Complete EMT Class

Update on Wednesday night, March 30, 2011: All five of these adult students have successfully passed the written examination for Basic EMT. Congratulations to all the students and their instructors!

Update: All five of these dedicated volunteers passed their practical skill examination on Monday, March 28, 2011.

There are five dedicated adults who are completing the Basic Emergency Medical Curriculum as required by the State of Michigan, Department of Community Health, EMS and Trauma Division. These five students have be attending classes since September 2010, and will finish up this week on Monday and Wednesday with their practical skills and didactic written examinations. These exams will take place right here on Beaver Island. After completion of the local exams, paperwork will be completed and each will be required to go down to Traverse City to take the National Registry of EMTs computer exam. Once each has passed the National Registry exam, more paperwork will be completed, and they will be licensed by the State of Michigan as Basic EMTs.

Dan Burton.................................Danielle Dedloff......................................Kevin White..................................Tammy LaFreniere......................................Vince Pickhardt

The students who are successfully finishing the EMT program offered and taught by Beaver Island EMS are Danielle Dedloff, Vince Pickhardt, Kevin White, Dan Burton, and Tammy LaFreniere. Sarah McCafferty is director of EMS and EMT class coordinator. Four of the students completing the EMT class are licensed as medical first responders already, and one of them was previously licensed in another state as an EMT.

Back row (L to R) Joe Moore, instructor; Kevin White, Dan Burton, and Vince Pickhardt; Front row (L to R) Tammy LaFreniere, Danielle Dedloff, and Sarah McCafferty, instructor

If you see any of these EMT students, encourage them, and tell them how proud the island is to have such dedicated volunteers. Thank you, all five of you, for you dedication! Thank you for the hours upon hours you have spent studying for class. Thank you for the extra study sessions that you have arranged for yourselves. And lastly, thank you for your desire to help your community!

Birds Returning and Preparing for Spring

Our first robin of the season

Seagull on a dock post

The birds are back doing what birds do...Ducks, geese, gulls, turkeys, woodpeckers...

All part of life....this duck was killed by a predator, but many feasted on the remains.

An eagle seems to be followed by crows and seagulls

The eagle feasting on the remains of the duck shown above....

The Beaver Island Community Development Corporation

"The Beaver Island Community Development Corporation is an organization dedicated to promoting and preserving the quality of life for seniors and disabled adults residing on Beaver Island by providing and maintaining adequate, high-quality, cost-effective housing."

This grouip is the one that is responsible for the building the Forest View Apartments across the road from Stoney Acres and next to the Beaver Island Rural Health Center. They have a very nice website that is up on the Internet that provides a great deal of information. You can view that website at this link HERE

Here is just a little taken from their website:

"Come join us April 17, 2011 from 1:00 - 3:00. The building will not be complete, but you can take a tour. We are too excited about these senior apartments to wait until they are all done to show them off!"

Forest View Community - Grand Opening Celebration

The Grand Opening Celebration is scheduled for July 11, 2011 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The building will be complete and the apartments will be occupied.

Please try to attend one or both of these events to help us celebrate!

Beaver Island Community Development Corporation
Affordable Housing for Seniors
PO Box 190
Beaver Island, MI 49782

Citizen of the Year Nominations due April 8th

The deadline for Citizen of the Year nominations is 3:00 PM Friday April 8 th . We must have your nomination in the Chamber of Commerce office by that time. You can use USPS or email. To see previous story, click HERE

Chamber@BeaverIsland.org

Beaver Island Chamber of Commerce

P O Box 5

Beaver Island MI 49782

Several dozen people have signed 15 nominations so far. You don't have to be a chamber member to write a nomination. An official form and more information can be found here.

http://www.beaverisland.org/2010-citizen-of-the-year.pdf

Just One Star

Can Comfort a Soldier

Talking Threads Quilt Guild invites you to join in honoring soldiers who have been injured in the line of duty while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.

All sewers of all levels are asked to join the effort to assemble Just One Star blocks. Judi will provide step-by-step instructions. Work will be done individually or as group efforts in assembly lines. Our star blocks will be sent to the Just One Star project to be assembled into quilts for the wounded Marines. soldiers, airmen, and sailors.

All interested Islanders are invited to this event. Sewing machines, neutral thread, fabric, and cutting tools will be needed, but not required. You may come” just to help”.

Some fabric will be provided by Talking Threads Guild, but we encourage you to bring medium reds, blues, and cream background 100% cottons if you have some.

Sunday, April 17, 2011 from 1:30 -4:30

Hearts to Holly Quilt Shop in Charlevoix is organizing this project locally. If you have questions please call Judi at 2963 or Donna at 2797.

Wildlife Club to Host MDNR on Antler Point Restrictions and Wildlife Certification

The Beaver Island Wildlife Club will host a meeting at 7 p.m. on April 11th at the Beaver Island Community Center where the Michigan DNR will be soliciting comments on the proposal to require bucks to have at least three points on one side to be legal for take while Deer Hunting on Beaver Island. As part of this plan an exemption for youth hunters sixteen years of age and younger has been suggested. A discussion regarding Wildlife Certification will also occurr at this meeting. We strongly encourage all interested parties to attend this meeting. The meeting will be attended by members of the DNR Wildlife Division and the DNR Natural Resources Commission.

Jeffrey Powers DVM President, Beaver Island Wildlife Club

Dermatologist to Come to BIRHC

The services that are offered to the island residents continue to amaze some of the long time island residents. BIRHC has a physical therapist and a chiropractor who come regularly to the island, and sometimes, on the same day. In addition to our two local providers, Sue Solle, a nurse practitioner, and Chris VanLooy, a physician's assistant, Doctors Neucomb and Mann come to the island on a regular basis. Beaver Island has its own resident dentist, Dr. Wendy White, who has been serving the island for years.

On April 15, 2011, Dr. Cotter, a dermatologist will be seeing patients at the BIRHC. You can set up an appointment by calling 877-901-2230, which is his office number on the mainland.

From Historical to the Present

In one room of the BIRHC where the historical medical equipment was found to one of the emergency exam rooms, there seems to be an ironic difference in time. While the bone saw is being used to remove casts, it is stored in the same room that the BIRHC has the most up-to-date equipment for telemedicine and tele-education that can be found anywhere. Attending a Grand Rounds educational seminar while still on Beaver Island seems to be contradictory, but it's not with the advent of the REMEC network and the telecommunications equipment in Room 5 of the Beaver Island Rural Health Center. Here we have Donna Kubic, BIRHC manager, attending a seminar through the network. The first picture is the presenter from somewhere on the mainland.

A picture of the presenter from the telecommunications equipment

Donna Kubic attending the class at the BIRHC Room #5

More Medical Devices from Historical B.I. Medical Center

Not sure why the only devices other devices saved and miraculously found were devices that looked more like torture than anything else. The other items were for looking into a body orifice that most of us would just as soon forget. He's the first one, a cystoscope. Here is what an Internet search brought up as the definition.

Cystoscope: An optical instrument (a scope) that is inserted through the urethra into the bladder. A cystoscope has two ports. Aside from the optical port that permits one to see inside the bladder, there is an additional port in the instrument for insertion of various instruments designed for biopsy (removal of tissue samples), treatment of small bladder tumors, removal of stones from the bladder, and removal of the prostate (prostatectomy). This is a much more modern definition with modern procedures including modern surgical practice.

The imagination doesn't need much help after looking at these items found recently at the BIRHC. This device is used to look where?? Yes, there.

Individual parts to the antique cystoscope. One piece selling on Ebay for $99.

Then another interesting piece of equipment, and it's still in use at the BIRHC today. Now they use this device to cut casts off of patients when the injury has healed. You would be amazed to see what its purpose was previously in history.This device is a Stryker Bone Saw for doing orthopedic surgery.

Some blades......the powered saw motor.......some more items for surgery

Apparently, the device shown just above could also be used for surgical removal of skin for skin grafting. The device was adjustable for different thicknesses of cuts for the removal of skin. The Stryker Dermatome.

This is fascinating stuff that the medical center staff has uncovered in storage.

There is only one question: Can we not provide the BIRHC with donations to get them a modern day cast removal tool instead of using a bone saw?

Antique Medical Tools Found at BIRHC

One such tool box was photographed and sent to Ron Winchester for his opinion. Here is what Ron Winchester wrote back:

They're old embalming instruments, in a "home" embalming set. It was common at the turn of the century that embalming was actually done in the home where the person died. There was an elaborate bunch of equipment the undertaker would haul to the house - all sorts of embalming instruments, pumps and fluids, and a cooling table, (Ron Winchester still has one over a hundred years old), a rubber sheet to protect the cooling table during the operation, a velvet pall to be placed over the body while on the cooling table after the operation, along with a headboard and foot-board to make it look like a bed. The person would remain on the cooling table until the casket was ready.

When Ron Winchester came home in 1980, his dad was still embalming in the basement of the old Medical Center. It was unlicensed and the state was checking on those things back then, so Ron had all of the stuff brought back to Charlevoix - old vacuum bottles and pumps that he didn't have a clue how to use. We were still using an old fashioned wicker basket (instead of a cot) to remove the deceased from the island up until the early eighties, when Ron sent a folding cot over to be used. Ron suggest that we ask Richie Gillespie about that one. Makes Ron feel old –he's one of very few funeral directors his age that utilized such equipment. But then, he doesn't know any of his contemporaries who regularly - if ever - arrange wakes and funerals in the home, or have attended burials on four Great Lakes islands

Official Program of Michigan Archival Association

for June 14 and 15, 2011, Conference HERE

St. James Marina Not Listed on State System

The following letter was sent by Jeff Powers:

Dear Township Officials,

I would like to again bring to your attention the fact that the St. James Marina is NOT listed on the Michigan DNR's marina reservation system. This is something that is long overdue in being completed. I pointed this out last year to Supervisor Speck after discussing this fact with several boaters who were attempting to book some reservations for a large number of yachts last spring. A community such as ours that is so dependent economically on tourism should be at the forefront in the use of technology to facilitate potential tourists utilization of our wonderful harbor and the islands facilities. I have posted the link below again for your review:

http://www.midnrreservations. com/SearchHarborPark.aspx

BICS School News

May 3, 2011 Annual School Election

Beaver Island voters will once again be asked to RENEW the school's operational millage. The requested millage renewal amount is 15.7908 on non-homestead property. It is the same operational millage amount that has been levied for more than 18 years. All of this money stays in the district to run our K-12 program. If you own just your primary residence (homestead property) or qualified agricultural property, you do not pay this tax. Proceeds from this millage account for approximately 75% of the school's general fund revenue.

The following people have been nominated to fill vacancies on the Beaver Island Board of Education: Jessica Anderson and Brian Cole, both current board members are running unopposed for two four-year school board terms. Also on the ballot will be the election of Charlevoix-Emmet Intermediate School District board members. The following people have been nominated to fill open seats on that board of education: Beverly Osetck, Jane Roberts and Selma Chellis.

A more complete informational flyer will be mailed to all P.O. box holders in late April. Voting for the school election is held at the St. James Township Hall.

Peaine Township Meeting Video 030911

March 15, 2001 Version of the CAMP from NREC

This was the version of the plan that was to be sent to members on March 15, 2011. This version is different from Version 10 which may be found below, a couple stories are in between this version and the other to help keep them separate. There is no BINN position on either versions of the plan. BINN does support the idea of getting various stakeholders together as suggested at the Peaine Township Meeting of 3/9/11. BINN is willing to provide information in any positive form about this subject on this website.

Newest Version of the CAMP

An idea about how to maximize our benefit from our ownership of

Whiskey Island

After listening to several people and considering their diverse opinions, an idea occurred to me about how we might obtain a satisfactory and beneficial resolution to our recent purchase of Whiskey Island. St. James Township was very fortunate to obtain such a beautiful, pristine asset in the Beaver Archipelago. This island, the middle of three small private islands lying northwest of Beaver, consists of two lots, one of 43 acres and the other of 53. Many people have supported the possibility of trading Whiskey Island to the State for the property on Paradise Bay in St. James, which was intended to house Beaver Island`s DNR employee, but for the past 25 years has been home to our Deputy Sheriff. The lot starts at the water and extends across the road and back into the woods. It contains a building, which the two townships have contributed equal funds to maintain and improve.

Other people have suggested that this proposed trade would short-change Beaver Island because Whiskey Island has to be worth much more than a single lot.

My idea is that we band together and work hard and smartly to obtain some additional considerations for this trade. First and foremost is that we make it a joint effort between St. James Township and Peaine Township. Showing Island-wide support is necessary for this to be accomplished. Some other conditions would facilitate this plan:

l) We need to get Bud Martin and his supporters on board.
2) St. James and Peaine should be the co-owners of the new acquisition, with Peaine reimbursing St. James for half of its expenses to date.
3) The two Island Townships should collaborate on the development of this acquisition to enhance the likelihood of receiving grants.

Improvements to the harbor property could include:
a) The creation of a public launch ramp and fishing pier on the waterfront;
b) The installation of off-street parking for boaters and fishermen, far enough behind the home to not constitute a nuisance;
c) The building of a picnic area and restrooms on the property, which could be called “Larsen Park,” after Sybil and Big Art Larsen; and
d) The continuing joint-Township maintenance and improvement of the home used as the Deputy's quarters.

I believe the DNR lot and these improvements could be obtained in trade from the State, and that this could be done in exchange for one of the two Whiskey Island lots. Creating this facility in St. James would relieve our current congestion and allow us to offer greater boating and fishing opportunities, enhancing our appeal to tourists from all over the Midwest. My hope is that we can simultaneously trade the second Whiskey Island lot for a line item ten-year bequest from the State's Commtmity Health Budget of $50,000/year for each of the Rural Health Centers in the island consortium of Drummond, Mackinac, and Beaver. We can accomplish great things, but only if we overcome our differences and work together. This plan could be a turning point, and lead to several comparable future benefits.

~ Bill McDonough, 3-10-201 l

Proposed Conceptual Drawing

Many Thanks to Jeff Cashman for this wonderful conceptual drawing!

Draft 10: Beaver Island Adaptive Management Plan

The following link takes you to the converted document in web format of the NRETC's Beaver Island Adaptive Management Plan. This document is the document referred to at the Peaine Township Meeting of March 9, 2011. This document will be one of the items that should be discussed by the interested parties in attempting meet common ground. Only ten copies were distributed by Ed Wojan at this meeting, but the entire document is available at this link.

Draft 10 Adaptive Managenent Plan

A Model Ordinance (from the Huron Valley Watershed Council Website)

To help local governments to enact their own ordinances to supplement the State program, the Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC), with funding from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, has developed a model wetlands ordinance that is consistent with the State law. The ordinance will provide local governments with a legally sound tool to protect their wetlands and property owners with consistent, predictable treatment throughout the State.
» Protecting Your Community's Wetlands , HRWC's wetland ordinance brochure dated September 2006
» Frequently Asked Questions About Wetlands Ordinances , factsheet dated September 2006
» MDEQ Model Wetlands Ordinance , dated March 2003
» Notes Regarding the MDEQ Model Wetlands Ordinance , prepared April 2006
» Legal Cases Related to Wetlands in Michigan , dated March 2002
» Natural Features Setback Ordinance , passed August 1998. HRWC highly recommends that communities enact a natural features setback ordinance along with a wetland ordinance.

from http://www.hrwc.org/the-watershed/watershed-protection/wetland-protection/

Transfer Station News

Beginning April 1, 2011, the cost of all black trash bags will be $3.00 per bag based upon the decision of the meeting of the Waste Managment Committee. The discussion of the color of the bag was eliminated by the change in wording to include all "consumer" type bags will cost $3.00. The Waste Management Committee met on February 15, 2011. The minutes of that meeting may be accessed HERE.

BI Christian Church Resident and Visiting Ministers

April

10: Jayne Bailey

17: Harold Kruse

24 (Easter): Harold Kruse

Easter Brunch Scheduled

Sunday April 24 Easter Brunch NOON at the Gregg Fellowship Center. Pancakes, Ham, Scrambled Eggs, French Toast Casserole and Strata along with OJ and Coffee. Community is invited to attend. Anyone wanting to bring a dish to pass are welcome do so.

32 Miles of Water

Update: 2/19/11---This video has had 108 viewings in the months of January and February so far. We hope that the views are getting the importance of having an air ambulance on Beaver Island and ready to go for the emergencies that have occurred here. It is obvious that ill and injured people are searching out other methods of transport since the transports for 2010 were down 50% compared to the last four years. While part of the cause is the depressed economy, the other part is the concern of being transported to the mainland and having a huge bill for that transport. BINN will continue to have this video available until something gets resolved with this issue. Comments so far: "You must be very proud of your son for doing this excellent video." "We never realized that this was still an issue." "Wow, a very important issue that seems to have been put on the back burner for too long. It's a burning issue."

Beaver Island has two flight services, and neither of them are currently certified or licensed to transport emergency patients from Beaver Island to the mainland. We thank the crews of the USCG helicopters for coming to do medical evacuations. We thank the flight services that have helped us get patients to the mainland for the last seven years and before. We thank Northflight for providing this service as well.

While a lot of things have changed over the last 7 years including a new school, a new executive director of EMS, new township supervisors,and new rural health center board members, there is one thing that has not changed.

Beaver Island does not have an FAA Certified Air Ambulance that is licensed by the State of Michigan.

When Phillip Michael Moore made this video as a Master's degree project, no one would have guessed that seven years later Beaver Island would still not have achieved this goal.

Please take the time to view the video. Please take some time to think about this, and then start asking some questions about how this can be resolved.

Beaver Island News on the 'Net Presents "32 Miles of Water" in its final form (28.5 minutes). The previously video, viewed here, was a slightly shortened version. The video is in high quality, but is still streaming video.

2010 Citizen of the Year

Nomination Form

Two possible awards: Individual and Organization

The award(s) will honor an individual, couple or community organization

that has made a significant contribution to making Beaver Island

a better place to live, work or visit.

My name is _________________________________ Phone ___________________

Address ______________________________________________________________

I would like to nominate _________________________________________________

• Please write 3 or 4 paragraphs, typed preferred, see criteria above

• Mail to: Beaver Island Chamber of Commerce

P.O. Box 5 , Beaver Island , MI 49782 – Chamber @BeaverIsland.org

Deadline is Friday, April 8, 2011

Questions: Call Steve West, Mon – Fri., 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 231.448.2505

The Award Banquet will be Saturday, April 30, 2011.

Please call Stoney Acre Grill & Pub (231) 448-2560 for reservations.

Citizen of the Year 2011 Banquet Menu

Sirloin Tips Gaelic

Braised, Choice Sirloin Tips with shallots, garlic and seasonings, deglazed with Irish Mist and finished with cream. Served over penne pasta and garnished with grated Pecorino Romano.

Roast Half-Chicken with Mushrooms

(Poulet au Champignon)

Roast spring Chicken topped with sautéed fresh mushrooms and resting in a sauce of chicken stock, horseradish, garlic, seasonings and cream. New Potatoes and Vegetable accompany.

Yellow Lake Perch

Eight hand-dusted Lake Erie Perch, lightly fried and served with House Slaw, Vegetable, Saffron Rice and House Tartar.

*All dinners are served with an amuse, a small garden salad, herbed bread, and dessert.

Cost per dinner is $20. Does not include gratuity. Alcohol and beverages extra.

1st Annual "Gail's Walk"

The first annual "Gail's Walk" will take place on Sunday, May 29, 2011, at 3:00 p.m. In honor of Gail Weede, each year we will have a Memorial Weekend Walk to raise money that will help Island families who experience unexpected or long term medical treatment. This fund would help with bills or expenses related to the condition. A minimum donation of $10 per person is asked for this 5k untimed event. Children 5 and under are no charge. There will be commemorative long sleeve t-shirts available for $10 each (please pre-order your shirts). Be sure to include quantity and sizes.

To pre-register for the walk and/or t-shirt, please make your check out to BIRHC (Beaver Island Rural Health Center) memo: Gail's Walk, and mail to Beth Croswhite, P.O.Box 143 Beaver Island, MI 49782.
If you are unable to join us, but would still like to donate to this worthy cause, any donation would be welcomed and appreciated. This walk would begin and end at the Public Beach Parking lot.
Any questions call Dawn Marsh at 231-448-2910.

On the Beach of Beaver Island

You will need Quicktime or another music player to enjoy this link.

The music played in the Holy Cross Hall in the late 70's and early 80's, recorded for posterity and shared here.

BICS Calendar for 2010-11 Approved

Beaver Island Transfer Station Information

Expired Subscriptions

Please send us your email address.

There are quite a few subscriptions that will expire in April and some that have already expired. We appreciate your support and ask you to renew your subscription as soon as possible. Emails have been sent out, but quite a few have been returned without delivery, which means that BINN does not have your current email address.

You can subscribe online by using PayPal and a credit card. Please click the link below if you wish to renew online:

RENEW