DNR Offers Osprey Education Programs for Classrooms, Organizations

Kubota Winners

The winner of the 2013 PABI KUBOTA RTV 1100 Raffle is DAVI (and HANS) STEIN of Beaver Island! Congratulations! Thank you to all who participated in the PABI KUBOTA Raffle in support of the Beaver Island Community Center!

Info and picture from Ann Partridge

Beaver Island Birding Trail Has Website

http://www.beaverislandbirdingtrail.org

Travelin Hunter TV Host Visits

The Travelin Hunter TV host Tony Smotherman spent about ½ hour visiting and taping at the Print Shop Museum. He posted a photo on his Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/beaverisland#!/TravelinHunter Thanks to Bill Cashman for opening for us! Tony’s show about hunting on Beaver Island will air next year.  -  Steve West

Annual Toy Drive

Some Facts about Hazardous Waste

There is a difference between Household Hazardous Waste and Business Hazardous Waste.  There is a difference between Household Hazardous Waste and Universal Hazardous Waste.  Common business hazardous waste includes fluoroscent lights, batteries, consumer electronics, antifreeze, and mercury containing devices.  Household hazardous waste is exempt from the HazMat regulations.  Business hazardous waste is NOT exempt.  If your business generates small quantities and keeps a record of these small quantities, the business may also be exempt from the HazMat regulations.

From CFR 49, 171.1d(5) Functions not subject to the requirements of the HMR. The following are examples of activities to which the HMR do not apply:

 (5) Transportation of a hazardous material in a motor vehicle, aircraft, or vessel operated by a Federal, state, or local government employee solely for noncommercial Federal, state, or local government purposes.

There is currently a bill, passed unanimously in the state House, that would exempt these common household hazardous wastes from the business hazardous waste category.  This bill has not passed the state Senate, and is currently in the Senate Natural Resources Committee.  It was to allow collection of certain business hazardous waste without going through the same procedures that are currently requiring HazMat training and certification.

Here is the communication received via email from the Michigan DEQ:

"Hi Joe.  Thanks for your inquiry on household hazardous waste collections.  As we discussed, household hazardous waste (solvents, corrosives, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, etc.) and non-hazardous liquids (used oil, antifreeze, etc.) are all exempted from the more rigorous hazardous waste and liquid industrial waste regulations that businesses must follow.  Waste generated from a home from ordinary day-to-day living , even if they’re ignitable, toxic, corrosive or toxic, are subject to the non-hazardous solid waste regulations.  The non-hazardous solid waste regulations require all transfer stations (secondary locations collecting waste subject to non-hazardous solid waste management standards) to be permitted, licensed (or otherwise exempted from permitting and licensing) AND the collection location and activity must be identified in the county solid waste plan.  To address the need to authorize such collections, recently House Bill 5005 was introduced by Representative LaFontaine.  It passed the house unanimously on 11/13/13 and is now under review by the senate.  To address specific questions related to pharmaceutical collections, the Director issued a letter, attached. To address questions related to collecting waste subject to the liquid industrial waste generator regulations, including hazardous waste generated by Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators (CESQG) of hazardous waste, program staff issued Operational Memorandum 121-2 which requires the municipality to take generator responsibility for any collected business waste.

I believe your best option would be to work with a vendor familiar with the regulations and what is necessary for safe collection, handling, transport and disposal or recycling.  Any collected CESQG hazardous waste would have to be managed in compliance with both Rule 205(4) of Part 111 (see page 50) and the Part 121 requirements for collecting business waste.  As we discussed, they could also opt to just take universal waste types and manage all of the collected waste of that type in accordance with the universal waste requirements. 

With regard to U.S. DOT regulations that apply to any waste collected by the municipality, I’d point you to discussing your questions with Sgt. John Holder of the Michigan State Police, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division.  He should be able to help confirm when those regulations do/don’t apply to wastes given they are responsible for implementing the U.S. DOT regulations in Michigan.   It won’t hurt to have taken the US DOT course, but I believe you are correct in that generally, only hazardous waste subject to full hazardous waste regulation, falls into the definition of a U.S. DOT hazardous material that must meet those regulations. (bolded by editor)

For more information on household hazardous waste, please see our household hazardous waste web page.  For questions specific to a planned collection, you’d likely be best to work with the district program staff and I’d be glad to put you in contact with them after helping you ferret through understanding the different regulations and how choosing one option or another may impact your handling and costs.  Hopefully this helps you on the path to establishing permanent collection options for your community.

As always, thanks for contacting our Department of Environmental Quality, Environmental Assistance Center. If time permits, please consider completing our customer service survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/oeacs.  It is short and will help us serve you better.
Tip:  The DEQ offers free pollution prevention assessments to businesses with less than 500 employees.  To learn mores about the assessment and how to qualify, request a free pollution prevention assessment.  To learn more about this program, see the RETAP Program Web Page at www.michigan.gov/retap.

Christine Grossman, Compliance Assistance Specialist
Training and Outreach Unit, Office of Environmental Assistance, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
deq-assist@michigan.gov"

Here is the attachement referred to in the email above.

Cookie Carnival Scheduled

 

December 12, 2013, will be the   going from NOON until 4:00PM at the Gregg Fellowship Center.

Healthcare Signup Scheduled

Pub Trivia Quiz

The Trivia Quiz was a contest held at the Stoney Acre Grill beginning about 3:30 pm on Sunday, November 24, 2013. This was a contest between nine teams with four or five members per team. There were ten round of ten questions each. The trivia included questions like: What country is know as the Land of Ice and Fire? What are the names of the three government divisions in the U.S. government? What are all the name sall the states that begin with the letter M?

This fundrasiser for the Beaver Island Food Pantry is organized by Linda Wearn and Carol Gillespie. It is a wonderful opportunity to gather together and have a laugh or three, and, for those who can, an opportunity to have a relaxing, but competitive afternoon, that is is lots and lots of fun.

"Thanks to everyone who participated in the Pub Quiz. We had nine teams and several donations from people who couldn't attend. The first place team consisted of Denni Cady, Bill Markey, Dick McEvoy and Marlene Wiser The second place team had Neal Green, Brenden Martin, Bridget Martin, Kathy Richards and Karen Slanga. Thank you Liam and Marilyn for providing Stoney/Danny gift certificates for members of the winning teams. We had fun--hope you did, too!"

Carol Gillespie and Linda Wearn

With the participants' donations and donations from others, this event raised $365 for the Beaver Island Food Pantry.

 

Anishinaabe Cultural Presentation

by Hank Bailey, Fish and Wildlife Technician

and

Pat Putney, Elders and Cultural Department Manager

1:30 pm, November 21, 2013

This presentation ran from 1:30 pm until 3:15 pm with a ten minute break in the middle. The event was live streamed by BI News on the 'Net. The presentation was about the culture of Anishinaabe and was made by two citizens of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians mentioned above. Pat Putney is of the Crane Clan, and Hank Bailey is of the Black Wolf Clan.

Pat and Hank brought lots of hands on materials for the children to touch.

Hank Bailey..........................Pat Putney

"There is nothing more important than respect of Mother Earth."

The second part of the presentation included an introduction to different types and styles of Indian dancing. Although the names were spoken, they are not remembered, just the importance of moving respectfully into the circle of life represented in the dancing circle.

Then the BICS students were invited to join the dancing.

The presentation ended with the students doing a little hands-on with the items at the top of this story.

Video of the Presentation HERE

Island Gets Rave Reviews from Leadership Charlevoix County Visitors

The Leadership Charlevoix County program came to Beaver Island for the third year in a row this year, and the island garnered rave reviews from the participants. The nine-session program has started with an overnight retreat on the island since it started in 2011. This year’s class is the largest ever, with 18 participants, including Patrick McGinnity, the Beaver Island Library director.

While on the island, the Leadership participants visited the Community Center, the Community School, Little Sand Bay, the Health Center, and much more, including the CMU Biological Station, where they spent the night. They also participated in ascavenger hunt that took them to a number of locations in the harbor district.

Here are some comments made by the Leadership participants after their visit:

“I cannot say enough about this experience. I had been to Beaver Island before, years ago, but never learned so much about the culture. The island people are truly family, and it shows that working and living together is always better when you work as a team.”

The Leadership group visited and heard from Gaye Paget of the Beaver Island Health Center, Joseph Moore of the Beaver Island Emergency Services and Angel Welke of Island Airways. One student said: “This is where I really discovered the importance of neighbors working together to keep each other safe. When Angel said that hearing a siren on the island meant a neighbor needed help, it made me think about how close the community really is.”

After hearing about how much island residents recycle, one participant said, “It made me realize how much more I can do at home,” while another commented, “Imagine what the world would look like if everyone recycled that way!”

Another participant said, “The food for the whole trip was amazing, especially at the Community Center food and baked goods. Thank you to all that volunteered to make this event go so smoothly. There was so much information packed into this trip. It was a great informative way to get to know what is available on the Island. Everything was impressive from the Community Center, School, Library, CMU, Medical Clinic, Airport,etc. I thought the Island would be behind in technology and a bit more rustic, instead it was top notch. Very impressive.”

And one Leadership participant summed up the feelings of the entire class very succinctly: “I had an absolute blast! It was my first time on the island, and now I know that visit won't be my last.”

The Steering Committee of Leadership Charlevoix County expressed its appreciation to the many individuals and organizations that helped make this latest retreat the best ever. They especially wish to thank the ongoing sponsors who have also provided services and funding to make it possible for Patrick McGinnity to participate in the Leadership program this year. They currently include: the Beaver Island Chamber of Commerce, Island Airways, Hodgson Enterprises Inc., the Beaver Island Association, and Powers Hardware. Leadership Charlevoix County is sponsored by the Boyne City, Charlevoix and East Jordan Chambers of Commerce with support from the Beaver Island Chamber. The program is made possible by a generous grant from the Charlevoix County Community Foundation. For more information, visit www.leadershipcharlevoixcounty.com or call Ann Partridge at the Beaver Island Community Center, 231-448-2022.

St. James Township Special Meeting

A Special St. James Township Board meeting took place at Whiskey Point beginning a 7 pm on November 19, 2013. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the suggested agreement provided related to the acquisition of property adjacent to the Yacht Dock property.

Video of this meeting can be viewed HERE

Holy Cross Receives Baby Grand Piano

Richie Gillespie and crew moved a baby grand piano into the Holy Cross Church. This piano was a gift to the Parish from Julie and Bob Neff. The piano was moved up near where the lector did the readings. Moving the piano into the downstairs portion of the church will allow the choir to move down to this same area. This places the choir and the pianist close to the altar and makes the communication between the priest and the choir much easier. This is a change in the location of the choir only; the organ will still be in the choir loft and available to anyone who wishes to play it.

"I'm delighted that my baby grand has been adopted by a nice Christian family," said Bob Neff. "In the Spring, I'll exercise my visitation rights. Till then, I send warm wishes."

Holy Cross Mass Location Change

Due to the new construction to begin in the basement of the rectory, the weekday masses will be move back to the Holy Cross Church. Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday masses will be in the church.