B.I. News on the 'Net, August 13-19, 2012

Ellie Hohn Memorial Service

Followed by Social Hour and Dinner at CMU on Saturday, August 25th

There will be a short memorial service on Saturday, August 25, 2012, in the Gillingham building at the CMU Biological Station at 3:30 pm, followed in the Matt and Ellie Hohn Center by social hour at 4:30, leading to the pig roast/pot luck meal beginning at 5:30. There is a sign-up sheet for those who would like to bring either a salad or dessert. The CMU kitchen will be providing a couple different potato dishes while Steve Lucas will be roasting a pair of pigs. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own refreshments. Coffee and lemonade will be provided. There also will be the unveiling of a new plaque in the Matt and Ellie Hohn Center honoring the Hohns.

Beaver Island Rollover Accident

On August 17, 2012, at approximately 1800 hrs, Charlevoix County Sheriff's Deputies on Beaver Island were dispatched to the area of Paid Een Ogs Road near Kings Highway for a single vehicle rollover injury accident.

The driver of the vehicle, Daniel LaFreniere, age 19, of Beaver Island, and passenger, Zackary Bousquet, age 14, of Beaver Island, were traveling West on Paid Een Ogs Road in a 1990 Pontiac Bonneville Sedan when LaFreniere lost control and started to go off the road and rolled the vehicle. The vehicle landed upright off the road with both occupants inside. LaFreniere was not wearing his seatbelt, but Bousquet was wearing his.

LaFreniere was transported by Beaver Island EMS directly to Welke Airport with back and chest pain. He was then transported off Beaver Island by Beaver Island EMS Air Transport.

Bousquet had a laceration on his leg and was treated at the Beaver Island Rural Health Center and released.

However, while speed may have been a factor, alcohol was not a factor in the crash. This accident is still under investigation.

(This was a corrected news release from Charlevoix County Sheriff's Department.)

Women's Prayer Luncheon

The Women's Prayer Luncheon will be held on Thursday, August 23, 2012, at (NOON punch 12:30 lunch) at the Gregg Fellowship Center. If you could bring a salad or a dessert to share, it will be appreciated. This year's theme is Breast Cancer Awareness. If you have any questions please call Jean Carpenter 448-2893

Photo by Frank Solle

Sunset

Beaver Island Celtic Music Mini-Fest

A unique Celtic music and dance experience takes place on Beaver Island at the Community Center September 6th through the 8th, 2012.

With dual concerts featuring Goitse, the upcoming forerunners of traditional Irish music, and RUNA, the acclaimed USA contingent in contemporary Irish music, multiple dance and instrumental workshops—where participants will actually perform onstage at the concerts—this has the makings of a Beaver Island Celtic Festival revival!

Goitse (pronounced gwi-cha) is an informal Gaelic Irish greeting meaning ‘come here'. After reading all of their international press, it should be ‘come hear '!

Hotpress magazine assured Irish traditional music lovers “They play with an easy assurance that should cause those fretting about the future of Irish trad to rest more easily at night. Lace up your dancing shoes and get ready for a night of wonderful music and fast paced fun with Goitse.” And Irish Music Magazine said, ”They have a big musical imagination and are not afraid to tear at the edges of the trad envelope”.

Not to mention they have an “All Ireland” winner on both Bodhran and Ceili Band drums who designs instruments; a four-time “All Ireland” and current “ALL WORLD” Banjo title winner; a three-time “All Ireland” mandolin winner; as well as a well-known Irish singer, currently a member of the cast of Michael Flatley's world-renowned show ‘Lord of the Dance'.

Goitse's newly released CD Transformed inspired John O-Regan of Irish Muisc Magazine to write, “ Transformed  sees Goitse transfer from the periphery to the big league”. Find out more and listen to Goitse at www.goitse.ie

Members of RUNA have played with Solas, Riverdance, SLIDE, Clannad, Fiddlers' Bid, Moya Brennan, Eileen Ivers, Hazel O'Conner, Full Frontal Folk, Keith & Kristyn Getty, Barcó, and the Guy Mendilow Band.

RUNA's diverse group of award-winning members come from around the globe incorporating a variety of musical backgrounds including Celtic, folk, classical, and musical theatre, featuring rich, vibrant & velvet vocals, gentle piano playing, a “special” style of percussion, classic and improvisational violin, and multi-instrument arrangements, including uilleann pipes, flute and whistle.

"For contemporary Celtic music at its very best--do yourself a favor and check out RUNA. RUNA.... brilliant! Gene Shay, WXPN ; co-founder of the Philadelphia Folk Festival.

"There is truly a mystical quality to their playing. They create a lyrical sound that is at once unique as well as seamless." – Lori Lander Murphy, Irish Philadelphia

Find out more and listen to RUNA at www.runamusic.com

This very special Celtic Music weekend on Beaver Island will feature award-winning fiddlers and violinists, dancers, bohdran & ceili drummers, banjo and mandolin players, tin whistlers, pianists, and piano accordion players, pipers and flautists. All on the Island long enough to “meet and greet”...and learn from!

The concerts on Friday, September 7th and Saturday, September 8th at 7:30pm will feature both groups, with Friday night being “headlined” by Goitse and Saturday by RUNA. Each night's show will be unique, highlighting different dance and music workshop participants, and giving everyone an opportunity to experience the best of both the traditional and contemporary Irish music offerings.

Tickets for the concert performances on September 7th and 8th are $20 each, or $35 for a combo ticket to both events. Check the Community Center or www.beaverislandcommunitycenter.org for listings of workshops, times and discount ticket combinations.

Island Treasures' Fashion Show-The Show of the Year

The fashion event of the year was held on Thursday, August 16, 2012, beginning at 12:30 p.m.at the Gregg Fellowship Hall. Island Treasures Resale Shop, and several local shops were represented in the line up of outfits, garments, and ensembles. Pinky Harmon was the emcee for the event. Reservations were required by calling Dee Gallagher at 448-2262 or Island Treasures Resale Shop at 448-2534. The reservations were full a day or so before the event. Attendees were asked to bring a dessert or salad to share. Beverages and door prizes were provided. This reporter was sorely tempted to put on a dress and go through the line with wig and makeup on, but settled for watching the show and taking pictures and video of the event.

Video of the Funky and Fun Fashion Show HERE

The event began with Donna Stambaugh giving the instruction to the group and with Peg Hoogendoorn asking blessings on the event and the food. The models were asked to go through the line first to be ready for the event to begin. Then Donna Stambaugh directed the remaining tables to get in line for the food. What a spread of food! What a wonderful gathering of women interested in fashion, about 85 of them!

While some of the ladies were still getting their dessert, the MC of the event, Pinky Harmon, began a story about a Big Blue Whale. The story included several amusing parts.

After the story, the fashion show was ready to begin. Each volunteer model deserves a big thank you, and a big thank you also goes to those who provided the fashions.

Thank you to all the models and thank you to Pinky Harmon, MC Extraordinaire!

See you next year at the Funky and Fun Fashion Show!

Meet Dr. Will Meuer, ER Doc from U of M

Dr. Will Meuer is an emergency room doctor and an assistant professor at the University of Michigan Medical Center. He teaches residents and medical students and also is on staff in the emergency room. His specialty in emergency medicine is stroke care, and he is part of the stroke team at U of M Hospital.

Interview of Dr. Meuer

BICS Volleyball Starts August 24th

There will be a double volleyball match starting at 12:30 p.m. at the Beaver Island Community School Gym. The double match will be against Maplewood Baptist. See you there to support our Island yourth!

Health and Human Services Fair

The Health and Human Services Fair will take place on Friday, September 28, 2012 from 1 pm to 6 pm at the Beaver Island Community School. There will be many on-island and off-island organizations present (like Beaver Island EMS and the Food Pantry, as well as the Charlevoix County Community Foundation and the Women's Resource Center. The gathering of organizations is all about offering you information that can benefit you financially, emotionally, and physically. Also, Charlevoix Area Hospital will provide some on-the-spot services like free cholesterol screening that requires no fasting and gives you results in 10 minutes.
Some of your Beaver Island neighbors will be there to give talks as well. To name just a couple: Andy Kohls will provide good insights into care for pets--such close companions for many people. Also, Brad Grassmick will talk about heart health, dissecting an elk heart in the process.
Stop by just after lunch, when you pick your students up from school, right before dinner. There will be something helpful and interesting there for everyone.
Please send any questions about this upcoming event to Adam Richards at 448.2067 or adamanos@gmail.com

Peaine Township Meeting of August 8, 2012

Video of the entire meeting may be viewed HERE

Osprey Photos by Frank

Vintage Car Show at Whiskey Point

(Photos by Frank Solle)

Everyone was invited to the Beaver Island Vintage Vehicle Show at Whiskey Point on August 12th, 2012. The show started at 1 pm. There was to be a short "Cruise" through town at around 2pm. What is a Vintage Vehicle? Anything old and cool that rides, drives, floats or slides.

The Whiskey Point Vintage Car Show

The event organizer was Dickie McEvoy.

Ford Mustang

Vintage Boat

Vintage Truck

Vintage Snowmachine

Thank you, Frank, for giving us the visual tour for those unable to make the event!

BICS Welcomes New Employees

Men's Fall Golf League Week 2 Results

Peaine Special Meeting, August 14, 2012

Watch Video HERE

This Week at Stoney

TUES Aug 14th FRESH WHITEFISH ARRIVES Today and Thursday, so…We should have it throughout the weekend & its $2 Tuesday in the PUB…ALL Domestic BEER!

WED Aug 15th is WINE DOWN WEDNESDAY …ALL Wine $1 off a Glass & $3 off a Bottle…in Stoney or the PUB! Also…Live Music 5-7pm with the FIVE LEAF CLOVER BAND! Great IRISH Tunes!

THURS Aug 16th Baby Back BBQ RIBS …tender & finger-lickin GOOD! AND …it's OPEN-MIC NIGHT with JEFF CONNORS at 9pm.

FRI Aug 17th Yellow Lake PERCH

SAT Aug 18th STEAK Special… RIBEYES, SIZZLERS, N.Y.'S, and Our ONE POUND PORTERHOUSE …ALL 10% OFF!

SUN Aug 19th HAPPY HOUR ALL DAY … DANNY'S BLOODY MARY BAR …Complimentary HOT DOG Buffet Noon-5pm…AND… JIM'S HOMEMADE PIZZA 5-8:30!

Great Food, Great Tunes, Good Times with Good Friends…

Our best to you,

Stoney & Staff

Governor orders flags lowered Thursday, Aug. 16 to honor Sgt. Kyle McClain of Rochester Hills

LANSING, Mich. – Gov. Rick Snyder has ordered U.S. flags to be lowered to half-staff in honor of Sgt. Kyle B. McClain, of Rochester Hills, on Thursday, Aug. 16. Flags should be returned to full-staff on Friday, Aug. 17.

McClain, 25, died Aug. 1 in Salim Aka, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 1433rd Engineer Company of the 507th Engineer Battalion in the 177th Military Police Brigade in Kalamazoo, Mich. McClain was a solider in the Michigan National Guard.

“Sgt. McClain made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the freedoms we enjoy and the country he called home,” said Snyder. “I extend heartfelt condolences to Sgt. McClain's wife, Lisa, his entire family and friends as we honor and remember this true American hero.”

McClain graduated from Rochester High School in 2005, and studied engineering at Ferris State University for two years before joining the U.S. Army National Guard. He was a combat engineer serving in Afghanistan, having already served tours of duty in Korea and Iraq.

McClain was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart posthumously. His other awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “Mobilization” device, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with Numeral 2, North Atlantic Treaty Organization – International Security Assistance Force Medal, Michigan Service Medal (Broadsword), Michigan State War on Terrorism Ribbon with “Mobilization” device, Michigan Outside United States Service Ribbon and the Expert Weapons Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar. He also received the Combat Action Badge posthumously.

McClain is survived by his wife, Lisa; his parents, Michael and Geraldine; and his sister, Kristyn.

Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. tomorrow at the Potere-Modetz Funeral Home in Rochester. The funeral service will be 11 a.m. on Thursday at St. Mary of the Hills Catholic Church in Rochester Hills.

When flown at half-staff or half-mast, the U.S. flag should be hoisted first to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff or half-mast position. The flag should again be raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day.
_________________
AMVETS POST 46
BOX 319
BEAVER ISLAND, MI 49782
amvetspost46@yahoo.com

Island Energies Gas Price Increases Fifteen Cents

The price of gas at Island Energies gas station at the Four Corners has gone up from $4.799 to $4.949, a fifteen cents increase noticed today on a fill-up. The price of gas varies around northern Michigan from $3.839 in Traverse City last week to $3.999 in Cheboygan and Petoskey last week. Beaver Island seems to be $1.00 higher consistently over the mainland prices.

BIEMS Receives License

Beaver Island EMS stated that they could have the air transport service licensed within 30 days of receiving the pieces of information needed. On July 12, 2012, at the Joint Township Board Meeting, both boards approved the contract and the license application was sent in very shortly after that meeting with the required information. The BIEMS agency was inspected, the aircraft was inspected along with the required equipment, and one of the ambulances was also inspected. Verbal approval to operate was received one week ago, and the actual license was mailed and postmarked on August 10, 2012. BIEMS has met the 30-day-promise, and here is the proof:

Beaver Island Fishing Video

Click link below to view video

http://youtu.be/9FumaO2Tjz4

This You Tube video show how challenging fly fishing for carp is and how important the role of the Guide is in a successful “hunt” and cast for the large elusive fish. The 31 pound fish in the still photo took 20 minutes to land and release.

Men's Fall Golf League

Men's Summer Golf League Winners

The winners of the Summer Men's Golf League are Rob Latimer and Dan Meriman with total points earned over the twelve weeks of 143. Congratulations Rob and Dan!

2012 MAD Camp Performance

Almost fifty MAD Camp participants joined fourteent MAD Camp staffers for another wonderful music, art, and drama camp. It is amazing to see the final performance of these talented teachers and talented youngsters. The link to the final MAD Camp Performance for 2012 is HERE. 

Tax Payer Contributions by Township

The information below is reprinted from a previous editorial on Beaver Island News on the 'Net by Joe Moore:

Peaine Township Millage Rates Set

The millage rates for the two townships are presented here for the joint operations, and you can draw your own conclusions based upon this side by side comparison:

Millage rates in the two townships for jointly funded operations

It takes a lower millage rate to raise the same amount of dollars in Peaine Township because the Peaine Township SEV is higher than the St. James Township SEV. It does not take a statistical analysis to see a statistically significant difference in these jointly funded millage rates. An individual taxpayer in St. James Township is paying more to support these jointly funded operations than an individual taxpayer in Peaine Township.

St. James individual taxpayers are paying between 31.17% and 45.28% higher taxes for the jointly funded operations.

At this Special Peaine Township Meeting of March 31, 2012, Bill Markey suggested that perhaps St. James Township should decrease their millages instead of having Peaine increase their millages for joint projects. This certainly will not work since the amount of money raised by St. James Township is just matched by Peaine Township, so the inequity of individual taxpayers will just continue. If St. James decreased its funding, Peaine would just match that decrease. If this cycle continued, the organizations trying to provide services to Beaver Island would eventually have no money to fulfill their mission.

It is Joe Moore's position that any jointly funded accounts should be taxed equally based upon equal millage, so that each Beaver Island taxpayer is paying the same amount of millage tax for the jointly funded operations. Joe Moore's request made at the Special Meeting of March 31, 2012, was to have the Peaine Township Board reflect and consider the fairness of these tax rates for jointly funded operations.

Equity in Tax Bills

Why should a St. James Township property owner have to pay more tax dollars for jointly funded operations than any Peaine Township property owner?

How Serious is the Inequity

Consultant Report Available

The Feasibility Evaluation for Establishing a Fixed Wing Medical Evacuation Capability for Beaver Island EMS was presented to both St. James and Peaine Townships at their meetings in August. This feasibility evaluation was completed by a consultant Michael Slattery to eliminate any misunderstandings and to provide the information for BIEMS and the two townships to move forward. This report is many pages long, but Beaver Island News on the 'Net believes that it is important enough to post the entire document including all of the legislation that pertains to this issue. You may view this report by clicking on the link below.

Feasibility Evaluation for Establishing a Fixed Wing Medical Evacuation Capability for Beaver Island EMS

Air Transport for Island Medical Emergencies (ATIME for Us)

by Joe Moore

Read Article HERE

32 Miles of Water

(Copyright 2004, Phillip Michael Moore)

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.