B. I. News on the 'Net, August 2-8, 2010

Library News

First off, the Beaver Island District Library would like to thank those who voted “YES” on our millage proposal! Thank you so very much for realizing the value of libraries, especially in this economy. Your local library is the one stop place for free reading material, videos, computers, puzzles, etc. Thank you!

July was a busy month for the Beaver Island District Library and things haven't slowed down yet. Just a quick comparison of June and July:

Stop in and check out Frank Solle's photographs that are in the display case. Bring your kids Wednesday mornings at 10:30 for Story Time with Mrs. Connie Wojan. Bring your lunch and sit in the memorial garden while using your laptop. Our WiFi is on 24/7 and can be used from both the front and back of the building. There are electrical outlets in the garden area behind the benches.

Flying off the shelves this month have been Steig Larsson's trilogy, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire , and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest ; The Help by Kathryn Stockett; Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert; The Rembrandt Affair, by Daniel Silva; War by Sebastian Junger just to name a few. New videos are: Diary of a Whimpy Kid; Jesse Stone: No Remorse; Avatar; The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo; Men Who Stare at Goats; and many more.

Don't forget that the library now has a website at http://beaverisland.michlibrary.org There is no www. in the address. You can search our card catalog and reserve book there provided you have a current library card. There are links to many, many places for adults and kids, for those doing research, for homework help, or for just playing games. Check it out!

BICS Calendar for 2010-11 Approved

Golfing Events Announcement

Sowa Golf Outing

Men's Pinehurst Outing

Chamber of Commerce Marathon News

Beaver Island: 8-6-2010 - 11:45 AM

A NEW Beaver Island Marathon course has been certified as a Boston Marathon qualifier

The September 4 Marathon Is Coming

On September 4th runners from around the nation will descend upon Beaver Island to run the Second Annual Beaver Island Marathon. We have runners from 15 different states coming from as far away as California, Texas and Utah; my guess is most if not all have never been to Beaver Island previously.
This year we are certifying a new course as a Boston Marathon qualifier; one that may be a bit more complex than last years’ route. To insure that all runners are safe and pleased with their decision to participate, we are asking for volunteers to lend a hand. The following assistance is needed:

· Road Marshalls or Pointers at the following locations
o King's Hwy & Bonner
o Donegal Bay & Back Hwy
o Indian Point and Font Lake
o Gull Harbor/Lake Driveo Allen’s Lakeview/Blue Spruce

Road Marshalls would be in place from 8:00AM until approximately 12:00 cheering and pointing the way for the marathon runners.
Also, If you have a home, cottage or room to rent that is not listed on the Chamber of Commerce web site please contact us and we will try to send a runner your way.

Help is also needed with registration, at the finish line and with food service.

If you can help, please contact us at Good Boy Events. Thanks for Your consideration.
Ron Suffolk - (248) 446-1315 - rsuffolk@sbcglobal.net

Unofficial Election Results from the August 3rd Primary

This information comes from the Charlevoix County website for the 2010 Primary.

Richie Gillespie received 132 votes in Peaine Township with Shirley Roloff getting 26. Richie Gillespies received 183 votes in St. James Township with Shirley Roloff getting 29. The Charlevoix County website shows that Richie Gillespie has won the Charlevoix County commission seat with a total of 570 votes to 446 for Shirley Roloff with all precincts reporting. Congratulations, Richie!

In St. James, the BIRHC millage passed 148 to 51. In Peaine Township the BIRHC millage passed 115 to 37, so it appears that the medical center will get their millage renewal.

In St. James, the library millage passed 150 to 43. In Peaine Township the library millage passed 112 to 39, so it appears that the library will get their millage renewal.

The St. James Airport millage passed 122 to 60. The St. James Operations millage passed 125 to 63. The St. James Fire Department millage passed 158 to 34. The St. James Landfill millage passed 148 to 49. The St. James Road millage passed 150 to 48.

All of the millages for the infrastructure for Beaver Island passed successfully. Congratulations to all those who put forth the effort to get renewals passed!

A Whiskey Island Adventure by Frank Solle

(Story and pictures by Frank Solle)

On July 22 a small group boarded Ben Fogg's newly refurbished boat, the 'Neptune', and headed for Whiskey Island. Only a few of the 15 persons on the trip had ever ventured to this outer island before, and all were interested in seeing just what, other than a nesting population of cormorants, was there.

Captain Ben..........Harbor

It was a comfortable 35-40 minute trip to the island across calm water. About half way on our journey we passed Mike Weede's 'Resolute' on its own outer-island tour, perhaps with some diving involved.

As we approached our destination Ben looked for a good spot to drop anchor. It took awhile for the anchor to secure itself among the rocks along the lake bottom, but once he was assured the boat was staying put we began readying for the shuttle ride to the shore aboard his trusty 'Shark' which had been towed behind the 'Neptune'. It took a few trips to ferry everyone who wished to explore the island the short distance nearly to shore where we stepped calf-deep into the lake and walked to the gravel surface of Whiskey Island - so much for dry feet on this excursion.

Cormorants

The cormorants have settled in nicely among the cedar trees along the edge of the wooded interior of the island, at least where we landed. The trees they were using for nests were all dead, but how this chicken and egg situation arose is unclear. Were the birds taking advantage of the situation, or did they create it? There were plenty of cedars still alive and without nests.

Gravel bar............North Shore......... South Shore

A look toward High Island......A passing ship......

The shoreline we arrived at was all gravel, jutting into the lake in a sharp point. The north shore quickly turned into thick brush that extended to the waterline and wasn't easily walked. The south shore afforded better walking, although it too was somewhat brushy as well as wet and mucky. While there was quite a variety of wildflowers and vegetation along the shore, I didn't have a guidebook with me and my botanical skills aren't what they used to be. Three of our group braved a crossing of the interior of the island and found some small hills as well as some large hemlock trees. Some in our group said they spotted poison ivy, but as one who is extra-wary of this three-leaved devil, I did not see any.

Plains of Whiskey Island......Whiskey Island Point

While Whiskey Island may not be the ideal summer get-away destination for picnics and sunbathing, in the short time we spent there it seemed to be a prime spot for further investigation. Simply being on a remote, uninhabited island is an attraction in itself. But next time I'm bringing some extra footwear for hiking around.

Satch on Whiskey Island....the shuttle to and from the shore.....the transportation

Cormorants at Gull Harbor

Minnows in Barney's Lake Shallows

Turkeys on Sloptown Road

Heading out to check on the ospreys, these turkeys were seen crossing the road. It's pretty amazing to sit with the engine idling and watch 17 little turkey chicks (turkics?) cross the road with several hens standing by to protect them. Vehicles stopped to look at this good sized group of turkeys.

Wildflowers or Weeds?

It just depends upon where you find these whether you consider them wildflowers or weeds. These were found at Barneys Lake Natural Area.

Election Day on Tuesday, August 3, 2010

While this is technically not a true election, this primary is pretty important due to the choices that will be available on election day in the fall. It is also important due to millages that are up for renewal. Please make certain that you vote is counted by going to the polls on Tuesday, August 3, 2010.

Lauraine Dawson Address

If you are interested in sending Lauraine a card or a letter, her address is: P.O. Box 651, Central Lake, MI 49622

Can You Tell the Adult Osprey from the Young One?

Is this the adult or the young one?

Is this the adult or the young one?

Email your answers to medic5740@yahoo.com

One of the Busiest Weeks on the Island

It sure seems quite amazing that this is one of the busiest weeks of the year on Beaver Island. The Baroque on Beaver week seems to have brought an amazing number of people to the Island to help generate the excitement of a classical music week. The concert at Community Center was sold out. There was standing room only at the chamber music concert at the Gillingham building at Central Michigan University. The work of covering this event and taking photographs has kept this old musician and music-lover moving from one event to another. There have been no polls from the businesses to verify this claim of busiest week, but the numbers of people on the Island has certainly not diminished. What a wonderful addition to the Island's economy, culture, and musical experience. Thank you, Baroque on Beaver, for your addition to the Island.

This is also one of the busiest weeks due to the election being held next week on Tuesday, August 3, 2010. Make sure you get out and vote. Lots and lots of issues and lot and lots of people wanting the political employment. There are many political phone calls coming in whether they are wanted or not. There were four political messages left on one phone's answering machine in twelve hours. How do you handle them? Does it make a difference to you if you get a call? Did you learn anything that you didn't know before the call?

Visiting Helicopter

Bryan Casper visited the Island with his helicopter this week as well. This helicopter has been his dream for a long time. A few Islanders got a ride in the helo this week as well.

Mackinac Racing Boats Visit

Phyllis Moore took a couple of pictures of the sailing vessels coming toward the harbor on their way back to Chicago or ports south. The vessels were rafted out in the harbor for the night. What a site to see all these vessels coming toward Paradise Bay. Thanks, Phyllis for your photos.

(click to enlarge)

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Baroque on Beaver Begins

With the introductory dinner at the Beaver Island Christian Church Gregg Fellowship Hall, another B on B begins. Some are new faces, and some are faces from past years, but all are wonderful musicians and are prepared to provide Beaver Island with another wonderful series of concerts. This year the classical music festival has a new administrative director named Zac Moore. There is also a new orchestral conductor Robert Nordling. The choral Kevin Simons is returning.

Ann Glendon introduces the new administrative director Zac Moore.

Robert Nordling (far left), the team, and Kevin Simons (far right)

Each participant was given an ID tag

As the musicians, the BICAA board, and families gathered, there was immediate comradery, much discussion and introduction, and plenty of food. Rehearsals begin immediately after the dinner.

Dinner and volunteer organizer Judy Jones

The concerts begin tonight, Wednesday, July 28, 2010, at the Community Center at 7:30 p.m.

Short Video Clip of the Introductions and Thank Yous

 

B on B Rehearsal Pictures

Here are a few pictures taken at Holy Cross Hall for one of the many rehearsals. This is just the first of several rehearsals' pictures obtained, but the only ones that were processed on July 30, 2010.

One conductor studying while the other rehearses

 

More Rehearsal Pictures

Baroque on Beaver Friday Night

Jayne Bailey did the introduction at this concert speaking of the grants given and how to donate to the BICAA.

The program presented various styles of music as all the other concerts. It included a Gabrieli Canzon a 12, Bach Brandenburg Concerto #3, Stravinski Concerto in e-flat, a Mozart Serenade #11, and a Piazzolla Invierno Porteno for violin soloist David Ormai.

Moment of Serenity

Mother Nature's Sense of Humor-the Toad

Okay, Mr. Toad, where are you headed?

Baroque on Beaver Wednesday Night

This wonderful concert was designed as a fundraiser for the rest of the Baroque on Beaver concerts. The performance was made possible by the donation of time, talents, and travel by the artists who performed in this concert. They were Martha Guth, soprano; Claudia Schmidt, soprano, dulcimer, and guitar; Ann Crawford, violin; and Penelope Crawford, harpsichord. If you were not here to go to this concert, or you were not able to get a seat to listen and view this concert, you missed something very special. But, do not despair, the entire concert was taped by Beaver Island News on the 'Net by the wonderous hands of Levi Connor. Thank you, Levi, for your willingness to be present and to take your talents at video with you to the concert.

Here is the complete program with only short pieces of applause removed:

Sound the Trumpet by Henry Purcell

 

17th Century Ballads- Cold and Raw

 

As att noone Dulcina rested

 

Child Grove

 

A light hears a jewell

 

My thing is my own

 

Mr. Isaac's maggot

 

Jog on

 

Sweeter than Roses by Henry Purcell

 

Edi be thu hevene queen

 

Sumer is icumen in

 

Arias from the opera, Alcina by George Frederic Handel, Ah Ruggiero crude...Ombre pallid

 

Verdi prati

 

Tornami a vagheggiar

 

 Zefiro torna by Clausio Monteverdi

 

Encore featuring all artists

 

Pictures from Baroque Performances

CMU Concert

There was only standing room left as the concert began...

Miranda Rooy provided an introduction to the performance

A string quartet performed music by Haydn

Robert Nordling provided information about the music to be performed by Stravinsky

Claudia Schmidt performed with an accompanist and with the chamber orchestra

Assorted chamber groups performed here at CMU Gillingham Center

Jim Gillingham, whose name the center carries, attended the concert.

The music after the intermission included a Piano Quintet by Mozart.

A wonderful concert of chamber music was heard by all who attended!!

Some of the music at this concert is copyrighted and cannot be shown here, but we will do our best to get the rest of it up here as soon as possible.

Introduction by Miranda Rooy

 

String Quartet by Franz Joseph Haydn

 

Introduction to Stravinski Eight Instrumental Miniatures

We are unable to include the Stravinsky Eight Instrumental Miniatures due to copyright issues.

Claudia Schmidt a capella

I Will Gather You In written and sung by Claudia Schmidt

Carioca sung by Claudia Schmidt

 

Croatian Trio

Part 1.....................................................................................Part 2

 

Part 3

White Moon with Martha Guth

Aria from Bachianas Brasileriras #5 by Villa-Lobos sung by Martha Guth

The Cloths of Heaven with Martha Guth

Waly Waly with Claudia Schmidt

Piano Quintet in E-Flat Major by Mozart

Part 1.......................................................................................................Part 2

 

Baroque on Beaver Saturday Night

Concerto Grosso, Opus 6, No. 11 by George Frederic Handel- Historic Performance

Many Thanks go to Andrea Moore for climbing a ladder to get into position to take this video. It couldn't have been accomplished without her. Thank YOU!

Introduction to Concert by Judy Jones, BICAA Board Member

 

Concertmaster enters and begins tuning

 

Andante larghetto e staccato, Robert Nordling conducting

 

Allegro

 

Largo e staccato and Andante

 

Allegro

 

Unfortunately, one of the favorites of the evening cannot be reproduced here. The Knoxville: Summer of 1915 is copyrighted material, and it will not be able to be shown here. This was one of the favorites of the Islanders because Martha Guth was the soprano soloist. If we receive permission from the copyright owner, it will be included.

Historic Performance of "Jephte" by Giacomo Carissimi with Rachelle Austin soprano and Conductor Kevin Simons

Part 1

 

Part 2

 

Part 3

 

Part 4

 

Schubert's Symphony #5-Historic Performance

There have been many historic performances take place during the nine years of Baroque on Beaver, but one of this year's highlights was Robert Nordling conducting Schubert's Symphony #5, composed when Schubert was only in his teens. "This must be a tribute to Mozart," the conductor stated. Here is the conductor's introductory remarks, and all four movements of symphony.

Conductor's Remarks

 

1st Movement-Allegro

 

2nd Movement-Andante con moto

 

3rd Movement-Menuetto, Allegro molto

 

Last Movement-Allegro vivace

 

One Week in the Life of a Golfer on the Beaver Island Golf Course

We won't print any names of those involved, but someone this week was on the tee box for hole number three, swung the golf club and hit the ball in the wrong direction. Well, the ball ended up in the fairway, but it hit the golf cart parked next to the tee box. The ball hit the front wheel cover of the golf cart, knocked it off at the same time chipping a corner from it, and then directed the ball to the fairway. When the group stopped laughing, there was another situation that occurred on this same hole.

“Oh no, I've lost my cell phone,” the golfer is almost beside himself. “Perhaps it came off my belt when I was getting out of the car,” the golfer hopes. Back to the car we go looking for the cell phone. “It's not in the car,” the golfer moans. “Perhaps its somewhere in the fairway on hole number 3. “No, remember you hit your drive into the trees on the left side of the green on number 3?” he is reminded. “Okay, we better go back and I'll look in there,” he says. So back in the trees in the rough on the left side of the green they go looking for the cellphone. “What color is the cellphone,” the partner asks. “I think it's red,” the golfer says. Searching in the trees and the brambles isn't much fun, and these two are ready to quit, when, at the last minute, there's the cellphone. “Good thing we went back in here to look,” the golfer said. His partner remarked, “It's a good thing you found it because I wouldn't have been looking for a black cellphone. “ The cellphone is back on the belt, clipped on tightly. The golf cart starts moving. “STOP!” is the command from the golfer who had lost his cellphone. “My pager fell off my belt. How in the h….. could this have happened!” Sure enough, these two golfers were getting ready to go back into the nasty stuff and look for a pager this time. Luckily, the pager was right back there next to where the golf cart was parked while looking for the cellphone. Moral to this story: If you go looking for a red cellphone, make sure that the cellphone you're looking for is red, not black, and once you've lost stuff in the crap, take it off your belt and put it somewhere safe.

Someone this week was very consistent in their swing on hole number seven. Laying two shots less than one hundred yards from the green on the longest hole on the Beaver Island Golf Course, #7, is usually a good thing. But, as you'll see, every swing on a club on the golf course can lead to an amazing shot or a disaster. Set up for a chip to the green and a possible par, the relaxed golfer took another swing. Shot number three was a bladed 60-degree wedge that went across the road out of bounds. Penalty stroke one, so the next shot was hitting four from this same location. This one was bladed and also went across the road. Penalty stroke two, and the third ball was laying six. Who said consistency in golf was a good thing? The third ball that was less than one hundred yards from the green on this par five hole was also bladed and across the road, so penalty stroke three, and the ball was laying eight. Another missed 60-degree wedge shot for number nine went into the trap hole on the right side of the green. Another wedge shot was taken and the club hit the ball twice on the same swing, so now the ball is lying just off the green with a score of 10. A poor bump-and-run chip shot with a seven iron made it on the green in eleven. It took three putts to put the ball in the hole, and this is how you score fourteen on a par five hole. There is someone up there in the heavens that must be laughing really hard because his record thirteen on hole number seven has been broken on this day.

Imagine you are a fairly good duffer golfer and you hit your drive what appears to be right down the middle of the fairway on hole number nine of the Beaver Island Golf Course. It's headed right at the big rock as the ball leaves the tee box. You walk straight down the fairway toward that big rock thinking that you've just had the best drive ever on this hole. You continue down the fairway and get close to the rock. No ball is in sight. You begin to think that you might have hit the ball past the rock and closer to the green. You look all around in the fairway. No ball can be found. Now you are getting a little frustrated because you thought it was a good drive. Your partner says, “Maybe it was too good. Perhaps it went into the rough past the rock on the right. Now you start looking in the tall grass of this “Little bit of Scotland on the Emerald Isle.” No such luck…..The ball is never found, and what you thought was one of your best drives is lost. You begin to wonder, “How can a drive in the middle of the fairway get lost?” A couple of days later, your friend walks up to you and says, “How did you end up leaving your ball on hole number eight when it was right in the fairway?”

On hole number six, a good looking drive hits the leaves of the tree on the left side of the green. Everyone thinks that the ball went over the tree and is up on top of the hill. After a few minute search on top of the hill, the message is heard, “There's a ball in the sand trap. You better check it.” That's surely not the ball that hit the leaves at the top of the tree, but sure enough it was. The ball is in the middle of the heart-shaped sand trap. “You can get it out of there,” someone says. Sure enough, the ball comes out cleanly without gouging the sand, and the ball flies over the green. Searching the short grass on the back of the green is unsuccessful, so the deep grass is next. Sure enough, the ball is in the tall grass. “You can get it out of there, “ another person says. Yep, a beautiful arching shot goes out of the tall grass, bounces once on the far side of the green and goes back into the heart-shaped sand trap. Now you're back in the sand trap, the same sand trap you were in with your drive, only now, you're in there, pretty close to the same place and hitting three. A great sand shot gets you out of the sand trap, onto the green, and ready for a ten foot putt for a bogie. Unfortunately, the golf gods are going to play a little bit with you, and the ball goes around the hole and down a slight slope leaving you a four foot putt. You think to yourself, “Okay, a double bogie will have to do.” You stroke the putter and gently guide the ball toward the hole. It lips out, goes around the edge of the hole and ends up eight inches from the hole. Your partner says, “That's good for a six.” You want to stay silent, but the honesty keeps you from keeping your mouth closed. “Well I'd really like to forget this hole, but I can't tell a lie. It took two to get out of the tall grass, not one. My practice swing was really an attempt to hit the ball, so you'll have to score me a seven on this par three hole.”

Well, there was this golfer who was having a bad day, not too bad, but he was not happy with the results. So, the golf gods decided that it was time for him to get a smile back on his face. Hitting off the tee box on hole number five, he pulled his drive into the rough very close to the 150-yard marker, a painted white board, pointed on the end that goes into the ground. His ball was found there in the rough just a little bit away from the fairway edge. “Impossible is impossible” is some golfer's motto and this time we had one of these occasions. The first rule of most golfers when in the rough is “just get it out of the rough.” A practice swing showed the nice easy swinging contact that could be made with the ball. Here we go. The backswing was perfect. The club face contacted the ball right in the ‘sweet' spot, and the ball took off. Where did it go? Maybe you have guessed already. How did that white golf ball manage to hit the 150-yard marker? The ball is less than two inches in diameter. The marker is just about three-quarters of an inch in width. Yet the golf ball hit the marker and bounced back into the rough even a little farther than it was before it was hit. Such is the luck of some of the golfers on the Beaver Island Golf Course.

Mixed Doubles tournament on a Sunday afternoon in the summer can be a very hot competition in the very hot weather. The format for these includes the ability of both the man and the woman to drive off their respective tee boxes. They switch balls and hit the other one with the man hitting the woman's drive and the woman hitting the man's drive. Then they have to decide which of the two balls to choose to continue the hole within the alternate shot rule taking turns until the ball is holed. So this number seven hole, par five, over 500 yards is a tough hole on the Beaver Island Golf Course. Both the men's and the women's tee box have a water hazard to contend with. Being quite comfortable with his drives, the man smacks a ball with the driver and it goes and goes and goes, but, unfortunately, the ball ends up in the cedar trees on the left side of the fairway, quite a ways out there, but probably not playable. The lady on this team gets up and hits a low drive off the tee that skips on the top of the water and ends up in the fairway as a safe drive. There is nothing in the rule book that penalizes someone for skipping the ball across a water hazard, so that is the ball that is playable, and the team pars the hole. There is no counting for luck, while the competitors just shake their heads.

Playing golf on the Beaver Island Golf Course is never boring. You can have a wonderful round if you keep your shots in the short grass, but you can also have a horrible round if you don't.

The following week was Baroque on Beaver and there was not much golf in sight for one of the Island's golfers. Busy, busy, busy….So what do you do on Beaver Island??

NEW LOCATION FOR THE CHARLEVOIX COUNTY COMMISSION ON AGING   

The Charlevoix County Commission on Aging staff announces their move to a new location at 218 W. Garfield, Charlevoix, MI  49720.  This is right next to the Public Health Offices.  The new facility is entirely on the main level and handicap accessible.  Members of the community are invited to stop by and visit the new location.  Also, meet our new Executive Director, Jack Messer, who is helping seniors address the challenges of the 21st century.  Office hours are 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday -Friday . Phone number:  231-237-0103 or 866-428-5185

Two in a Tree

"Haven't you seen a flicker before?" was the question. The answer was, "Not ever in a leafless tree this close-up."

Historical Society Publishes Jerry LaFreniere's Photos

Selected photos from the Jerry LaFreniere collection have been published in a soft cover book format by the Beaver Island Historical Society. Everyone enjoyed looking at the framed photographs and the photo collection kept by Jerry LaFreniere. After Jerry passed on, his children wanted his photographs to be shared. This collection of photos will benefit the historical society. If you are interested in purchasing a copy, contact the Beaver Island Historical Society, Beaver Island, MI 49782.

BIRHC Millage Up for Renewal August 3rd

On August 3rd Beaver Island voters in both townships will be asked to approve a renewal of two mills to support the operations of the Beaver Island Rural Health Center.

Please continue to support prompt, locally available health care, an essential service for Beaver Island residents and visitors. Vote “Yes” on the August ballot proposal to renew 2 mills for the Beaver Island Rural Health Center.

This proposal reestablishes the 2 mills medical center millage previously approved by the electors that expired in December, 2009. Specifically, the proposal renews the current 1.8420 mills and restores the .1580 mills previously rolled back by the Headlee Amendment.

"Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be imposed on taxable property in the Township of Peaine, County of Charlevoix, State of Michigan be increased by up to two dollars ($2.00) per thousand dollars ($1,000) (2 mills) of the taxable value on all taxable property in the township for four (4) years, 2010 through 2013 inclusive, for the purpose of providing funds for the operation of the island's Rural Health Center, and shall the Township levy such millage for this purpose?"

If approved and levied in its entirety, it is estimated that the 2 mills would raise an estimated $138,373.00 for the township when first levied in 2010.

Beaver Islands Institute

August 27-30, 2010

(From the IJNR website)

This short-course fellowship will be a refresher program open only to applicants who are alumni of one of IJNR's nine prior Great Waters Institutes. IJNR intends to select dozens of alumni to participate in this fellowship, which will be focused on island ecosystems of the Great Lakes.

Because of their remoteness and inaccessibility, island ecosystems in the Great Lakes region are often overlooked. Yet these fragile ecosystems have vital environmental roles. IJNR's journey to the Beaver Islands Archipelago in northern Lake Michigan will attempt to put the ecological importance of island ecosystems into a broader, Basin-wide perspective. Programming will emphasize conditions, practices and problems that are common among islands throughout the Great Lakes region. The fellowship will be headquartered at the Central Michigan University Biological Station on Beaver Island.

Themes and Issues to Examine:

Traverse City, Michigan, will serve as the start and end point for this program, but Fellows will spend most of their time on the Beaver Islands. This ecologically rich and remote area faces significant environmental issues that resonate throughout the Great Lakes region. The Beaver Islands are positioned at the front line of many Great Lakes ecological battles—ranging from fishery-management challenges and exotic-species invasions to a controversial cormorant colony and ongoing development pressures. At the same time, the archipelago's shallow waters and smattering of tiny islands serve as incubators for everything from small mouth bass to the endangered piping plover. In meetings with scientists from the Michigan DNR's Charlevoix Research Station, journalists will examine the latest trends affecting the aquatic food web and the distinctive contributions that shallow reefs and sunken islands make to local and regional fish production.

During the program, IJNR will conduct tours (by boat and on foot) of a wide variety of field sites, where the group will explore several ecological issues, aided by panel discussions and relaxed conversations with regional scientists and local residents. This program will feature presentations by local, regional and international experts on island ecosystems.

Senior Help Mate

Liaison between BIRHC and Senior Islanders

 “Promoting Independent living in the Beaver Island Community”

  The Senior Help Mate will coordinate your care in conjunction with the care providers at the Beaver Island Rural Health Center

Wellness Services

  Medication Set up –(supervision by the BIRHC Practitioners)

Transportation--Visit a friend--- Grocery shopping--- Medical appointments--- Errands

Blood pressure monitoring

Meal preparation

Shopping

Light Housekeeping

Companionship

Respite care

Medication Prompting

Managing Household Tasks

Help with laundry

Personal Care

 Medical equipment needs in conjunction with Hospice Helping Hand

Circle of Strength Cancer Support August 4th at BIRHC

Circle of Strength Cancer Support Group(s), meet on the First Wednesday of every month At Charlevoix Area Hospital in the large classroom on the lower level of Hospital. Time: 10:30a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and on Beaver Island-Medical Center at the same time each month . The next meeting will be Wednesday, August 4, 2010.

We will welcome anyone in the area to join us for sharing, learning and making new friends.

 If you have been diagnosed with cancer now or in the past, if you are a family member of a person with cancer, or a friend and support person of someone with cancer, you will always gain something special from a meeting.

We will be joining (via REMC-like TV live,) the support group on Beaver Island . We are in this together .

Ever Try Kayaking?

Ken Bruland has been doing some eco-friendly kayaking tours on Barney's Lake recently. His group have seemed quite interested in the wildlife there on the lake. Some even witnessed the attempt of an eagle to get the loon hatchling. (The editor did also, but did not get out the equipment quickly enough.) If you've not tried this way of viewing the wildlife on the island, it might be another option for you. You can access this wonderful water activity by calling 231-448-2221, the Inland Seas Kayaking.

A group of ten kayaks head out toward Garden Island for an overnight trip.

 

The Beaver Island Health & Human Services Fair

Live well, Feel well, Be well

Plan on attending September 16th , from 2pm-7pm at Gregg Fellowship Hall. There will be many on- and off-island organizations present to provide you with information that can help you physically, financially, emotionally, and spiritually.

To name just a few:

 

In addition to the many other organizations, we plan on making sure that you do not leave empty-handed. And children and teens are as welcome as adults. There will be much for them to see and hear too, as well as games, brain-teasers, and an obstacle course!

If you have any questions about the event, please contact Adam Richards at either 448.2067, or adamr@beaverisland.k12.mi.us

See you there!

Beaver Island AMVETs Offer Scholarship

Beaver Island AMVETS Post 46 is offering a $1000 scholarship to any student who graduated from Beaver Island Community Schools and and has completed at least one year of post-high school education.

Please submit a letter stating the reason you believe you should received this scholarship to:

AMVETS Post 46
Box 319
Beaver Island, MI   49782


The scholarship will be awarded not later than August 10, 2010 and letters must be received by August 9, 2010..

European Swamp Thistle

European Swamp Thistle has taken root on Beaver Island in a number of locations: below Martin's Bluff, the Kilty's Point area, along both Hannigan's Road and Johnny Martin's Trail, and at Little Sand Bay. A small patch was eliminated below Bonner's Bluff as well thanks to a concerned property owner. Being a biennial, a few years of hand harvesting flower tops should go a long way to controlling the spread of this invasive species. Allowed to spread this hardy invasive can easily choke out native species and take over well-lit wetland areas.

The best means of control is to clip off the flowering heads, not only at the top of the plant, but along the stem as well, bag them up and dispose of at the transfer station. Cutting the stalk near the base is a good follow up technique.

If you think you have a population of these plants on your property and would like assistance in removing them call Frank Solle at 2162 or Pam Grassmick at 2314.

Thistle Poster

ROUNDING UP YOUR FOOD PLOT

by Lois Williams

In the last few months you have all no doubt hear the buzz about food plots. Just what is a food plot, you may ask, and what purpose does it serve. In the realm of whitetail deer a food plot is a patch of land, planted by man, to augment and complement what nature has provided for them in the wild. With a lot of old growth forests on the Island and not enough logging, the deer could use some help. The Beaver Island Wildlife Club initiated and encouraged food plots on private land and state land in 1999 . Later we looked into better management practices. In 2005, we sponsored a speaker from the Quality Deer Management discussion at Peaine Township Hall. Perry Russo, North Central Regional Director spoke about measures aimed at improving herd quality. This type of management is a three fold effort to let the little bucks to grow, take a judicious number of does, and provide better habitat for our whitetail herd. We certainly could find no fault in those three concepts. Following this meeting the club decided to implement a volunteer effort to encourage non-harvest of small bucks in a campaign to “let ‘em go, let'em grow.” Most land owner deer hunters have implemented their own regulations to take only bucks that have at least 3 points on one side. The consensus was to keep it voluntary in what we call “hunter's choice”. At this time we also began to encourage more land owners to plant plots for increased nutrition. With the help of the DNR some state land was also planted and older plots were mowed. The club helped private land owners with some of the cost to encourage even more plots.

Food plots don't have to be large. On the acreage I own we prepared one acre, divided into two plots about 400 yards from each other. They are bordered on three sides by forest giving the deer needed protection. Preparing for this on the Island was a major chore. As you all know the glue that holds the Island together is called “juniper”. What was left after juniper removal was something not unlike beach sand. For ten years now we have nurtured that sand with lime, fertilizer and a lot of sweat. Our crops have ranged from rye to buckwheat, winter wheat, king clover, millet, Brassica, and last year buck forage oats. This brings us to the issue of “rounding up your food plot”.

The last two years we have planted our plots in August. This summer the plots have become choked with weeds and unwanted grasses fueled perhaps with warmth and rain. I thought it would be a good idea to spray the area with Round Up and just like magic the area would be weed free for August planting. That was my plan until I did some research on the internet about the product.

For years I have been told repeatedly by farmers, lawn service persons, and even gardeners about the safety of this product ROUND UP. Monsanto is considered the mother of agricultural biotechnology. It is basically a system that requires no tilling. You kill all the weeds, you use Round up ready seeds, spray the crops when weeds appear and viola the weeds disappear and the crops survive. Monsanto advertised more yield per acre and huge savings on labor and fuel for farm equipment. That sounds like a winner but research has shown otherwise. The main component of Round Up is glyphosate . Over time what have emerged are glyphosate-resistant weeds and pests. This has increased the need for more glyphosate, additional pesticides, and increased man power to control these hard to kill “super weeds”.

It was never my intention to use Round Up ready seeds but it was my intention to kill all the weeds. When I started to question how safe this was for the environment I found that there are all kinds of red flags waving out there and I began to read and to dig out the reasons why it is not safe for the environment.

•  Super weeds. Mother Nature has her own way of fighting back. These weeds have found a way to evolve to survive. In some cases they have spread to other areas and even related wild plants.

•  Herbicide in food. I am not comfortable with herbicides/pesticides on my food and go to great lengths to avoid them. Glyphosate is absorbed by the foliage and translocated rapidly throughout the plant. Lettuce, carrots and barley planted a year after glyphosate treatment has shown residues to be present. The beef, pork, and chicken that you eat that has been raised by agricultural farming (what you get in the grocery store and not from you local farmer) contains residues from animals fed corn and soy products that have been raised in Round Up ready acres. Whitetail deer and wild turkeys who feed in the wild are my favorite organic sources of meat. I don't want those deer ingesting plants grown over Round Up if there is any chance of glyphosate residue in the meat. Aren't we just compounding our problems?

•  Harm to wildlife. The use of Round Up has been linked to the decimation of frogs on a worldwide basis. It also causes harm to non-target insects like the caddis fly. There is strong evidence that it also kills ladybugs.

There will be strong support for use of Round Up and strong opposition. You have to decide. I suggest you do your own research. I went on line to www.sourcewatch.org . From there you can find other sites and excellent references.

This fall when I'm rounding up my food plot it won't be with Round Up. We will disc and drag, plant and hope for rain. Hopefully the result will be a healthy crop of forage oats to feed our beautiful, healthy whitetail deer, and all those other critters out there that forage.

Lois Williams

July 17, 2010

Men's Golf League Weekly Results

Playoff Night 8/4/2010

Standings Prior to Playoff Night

TEAMS:	S.	P.	T.P.
Jeff & Ryan	38	8	138
Howard & Joe	38	12	121
Rob & Dan	37	10	115
Francis & Larry	42	8	112
Larry & Joe	37	10	107

The table above shows the relationship between the first five places in the men's golf league on July 28, 2010, which was the next to the last night of the golf league. There was plenty of opportunity for some teams to move up in the standings, although first place by Jeff and Ryan was pretty much a sure thing. With only twenty points available, Howard and Joe would have had to take nineteen out of the twenty to knock them out of first place, almost an impossibility.

			WEEK 12 RESULTS
PLACE:	TEAMS:	Score	Point today	Total Points		Stroke Average
1	Jeff & Ryan	40	8	146		36.83
2	Howard & Joe	37	12	133		37.83
3	Francis & Larry	42	14	126		41.92
4	Rob & Dan	43	6	121		39.33
5	Ivan & Buck	37	13	117		40.17
6	Ron & Bob	35	12	116		35.92
7	Larry & Joe	36	8	115		36.92
8	Chuck & Earnie	40	10	110		38.42
9	Bill & Bob	44	7	109		44.00
10	Frank & John	42	10	107		40.50

First place team of Jeff Mestelle and Ryan Smith receive their winnings and trophies.

Joe Moore and Howard Davis with their second place trophies.

Larry Kubic and Francis Pike proudly show their third place trophies

The golf league is quite competitive and consistency is rewarded while inconsistency seems to be the downfall of some of the teams. Jeff and Ryan maintained their first place position without any doubt. Howard and Joe maintained their second place position with Howard's excellent putting and chipping ability. From third place on down, however, there was a definite mix-up of places with six places 'in the money.' Francis and Larry (now 3rd place) moved ahead of Rob and Dan (now fourth place) by scoring playing a better scoring round. To say that Francis and Larry were happy is a gross understatement. The team of Ivan and Buck moved from down in the lower places up to fifth place as did Ron and Bob for sixth place.

How can a team with a score average of 37 be beat by a team with a score average of 38? It all has to do with how a team plays on a particular night. If you look at the first two places, the first place team with a score of 40 was beat by second place with a score of 37, low score winning the match. These two teams played even up in the playoffs, and the second place team just played better golf on this night than the first place team.

What is perhaps most interesting about this league setup is that your stroke average is only part of the calculation into who wins a match. How can a team's average score of 42 beat those teams with score averages that are much lower? If you look at Francis and Larry's average of approximately 43, and then look down the chart at those placing further down, you will see that Francis and Larry beat out five teams with stroke averages lower than theirs? The answer lies in the handicap system that is currently in place for this men's league of golf. At the annual award ceremony and meeting after the round of golf on August 4th, hosted by Buck Ridgeway, the teams discussed the method of handicap and found that it provides everyone an opportunity to win a match. By general consensus, the handicap method will continue to be used for next summer.

The Fall Men's Golf League begins next Wednesday night.

Meet the Local Artist-Frank Solle

Our district library has chosen Frank Solle for the local artist to feature for this month. Frank is a local photographer and poet. His art will be featured at the Beaver Island District Library until mid-August.

Frank Solle said, "The library is a hub of activity throughout the year and I think this is a great way to give notice to the many talented and creative people living here. I feel quite honored to be asked to display some of my work and look forward to seeing many other wonderful exhibits over time.

And with that in mind I'd like to take this opportunity to remind everyone of the upcoming Art Show during Museum Week. Housed in the Gregg Fellowship Hall July 21-23, there is a tremendous collection of art on display and for sale each and every year. A portion of each sale goes to support the Historical Society as well. See you there."

Here's some samples of the photos on display, a couple chapbook covers, and the broadside of 'Sandhills on the Fen'.

Photos: Yacht Club, Waugonshanse Light, Tree Chair

Books and Poetry

Peaine Township Meeting on July 14, 2010

There is still a lot of anger and disagreement over the township airport, and this surfaced in this July 14th meeting. There were a few other issues that are of importance and interest to not only Peaine Township residents here. You can view video of the entire meeting by clicking the link below:

2010 July 14 Peaine Meeting

1st ANNUAL BIGC MEN'S “PINEHURST” GOLF OUTING

FORMAT: “PINEHURST SYSTEM”

FIELD: MAXIMUM OF 18 TWO-MAN TEAMS

(Need at least 12 teams to hold event)

WHEN: August 27, 2010 5:00 p. m. “SHOTGUN” START 

FEE: $$20 Entry fee + green fees if not a BIGC member

PRIZES: 1ST Place $144.00 (or 40% entry fees)

2nd Place $108.00 (or 30% entry fees)

3rd Place $ 72.00 (or 20% entry fees)

4th Place $ 36.00 (or 10% entry fees)

 

There will be a closest to the pin contest ($5.00) also to add some “spice” to the evening. Same as in league play except on #9 you will have two chances to hit the green for each team. 

Please use sign up sheet on desk at Clubhouse, or call BIGC at 2301 or Buck at 2680 to enter your team.

How the “Pinehurst System” works!

On each hole:

•  Each player hits a drive

•  Second shot each player hits their partners drive

•  Then they choose which ball they want to play.

•  The person whose ball is not chosen hits the 3 rd shot

•  Alternate shot until a putt is holed.

•  If one of the two team members hits their drive out of bounds the team will have to play the other's drive.

•  If both hit their drives out of bounds, the will have to take a penalty stroke and each hit a second drive.

12 TEAM MINUMUM FIELD GUARANTEES $96. 1 ST PLACE PRIZE! PLEASE SIGNUP BY AUGUST 24TH SO WE WILL KNOW IF IT'S A GO OR NOT.

St. James Township Meeting July 7, 2010

Unfortunately, due to a technological glitch, the first fourteen minutes of the meeting did not record. This would have included all of the Old Business, so you will have to wait to read the minutes of the meeting to find out what happened during that part of the meeting. Here is the meeting from the New Business on.

Road Issue

Whiskey Island for DNR Building and Property 1

  Whiskey Island for DNR Building and Property 2

 Whiskey Island for DNR Building and Property 3

Board of Review Rescheduled

Planning Commission Request for Change in Zoning

Rezoning of property to R2

Board and Public Comment  

Beaver Island Rural Health Center with

Free Shingles Vaccine

• Must be 60 years old or older
• No Insurance coverage for Shingles Vaccine
• No Medicare Part D

Shingles is a disease caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. Once a person has had chickenpox, the virus can live, but remain inactive in certain nerve roots within your body for many years; if the virus becomes active again, usually later in life, it can cause shingles. About 1 in 5 people have shingles at some time in their life, impacting an estimated 2 million people in Michigan. It can occur at any age, but it is most common in people over the age of 50. It is uncommon to have shingles more than once, but about 1 in 50 people have shingles two or more times in their life.

A vaccine has been developed that can prevent you from developing shingles. The Herpes zoster vaccine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States in 2006. Call the Beaver Island Rural Health Center 448-2275 if you qualify for the free vaccine and make an appointment.

Donna Kubic, RN, Managing Director

Preventive Care / Wellness Screening at BIRHC

$25.00 fee includes the following:

· Review of Medical History

· Height & Weight

· Blood pressure check

· Cholesterol , anemia , and blood sugar screening

· EKG

To make an appointment for a Wellness Screening, call the BI Rural Health Center - 448-2275

You can schedule a screening Monday thru Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm , or after hours upon request.  Beaver Island Health Wellness Screening Program is designed to emphasize the benefits of preventive medicine .

from Donna Kubic, RN, Managing Director

BIRHC 2010 Car Raffle

The Beaver Island Rural Health Center is raffling off a 2010 Crystal Red Metallic Chevrolet Cobalt. It comes loaded: cruise control, air conditioning, an AM/FM/CD player, keyless entry, remote start, all season tires, front and side airbags, a 2.2L, 4 cylinder 155 hp engine and automatic transmission. Tickets are $100 and are available at the Health Center, McDonough's Market and from any board member. A maximum of 600 will be sold.

Thanks to all who bought “Early Bird” tickets. The winner of the $1000 Early Bird Prize was Sally Lounsberry. The car drawing will once again take place on Labor Day, but at a new location: The Beaver Island Lodge at 7:30 PM. All proceeds from the raffle will go directly to supplementing the Health Center's operating budget.

Beaver Island Transfer Station Information

Subscriptions to Expire

Please send us your email address.

There are quite a few subscriptions that will expire in July or 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

Meeting Minutes

The minutes of all public meetings will be posted

as soon as they are received.

News on the 'Net welcomes minutes to all public meetings. All organizations are welcome to submit meeting minutes for publication on this website. Please email them to medic5740@gmail.com.

Airport Committee Minutes

Beaver Island Cultural Arts Association Minutes

Peaine Township Board Minutes

BIRHC Board Meeting Minutes

St. James Township Meeting Minutes

Beaver Island Community School Board Meeting Minutes

Beaver Island Ecotourism Goals Draft, rev. 3, 19 Jan 2010 NEW!

Beaver Island Natural Resources and Eco-Tourism Commission Minutes NEW!

Joint Human Resources Commission Minutes (includes agenda when available) New Feature for 2010!

Waste Management Committee Minutes (New for 2010!)