B. I. News on the 'Net, February 15-21, 2010
BICS Basketball
Friday night basketball on Mackinac Island had Beaver Island Lady Islanders with 30 points losing to Mackinac Island Lady Lakers with 37 points. Listening to the game tonight on radiomackinac.org?
The Beaver Island Islanders were up three points at halftime against the Mackinac Island Lakers, 26-23. The Islanders were victorious in this game against the Lakers with the final score of 61 to 41 with Bryan Timsak leading the team with seventeen points.
On Saturday morning, the Lady Islanders won with a score for Beaver Island of 43 points with the Lady Lakers scoring 28 points. Congratulations, Lady Islanders!
The Islanders, although winning last night, were not on their game today, and lost on Saturday with a score of 38 points with the Lakers scoring 41 points.
BICS Health Occupations Students at Ferris
Today, February 18, 2010, the Beaver Island health class students (Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA)) left to travel to Ferris State University to compete in HOSA's Regional Competition. Each of the fourteen Beaver Island students chose a health occupation that they found interesting. They spent time learning about that health occupation, and today they will compete against other students in knowledge about their choice. Jenna Battle and Olivia Schwartzisher will compete in Medical Terminology; Kaylyn Jones in veterinary medicine; Dereck McDonough and Matt Cull in Sports Medicine; Michael McCafferty and Billy Lemmink in Forensic Science; Brighid Cushman in Public Speaking; Alex Kuligoski and Brogan Maudrie in Medical Photography; Gus Connaghan, Jamie Campbell, Dan LaFreniere, and Claire Kenwabikise in Medical Poster. Each of the 14 students has been working since October on their chosen event, and are very excited about the competition. If any of our students score in the top ten of their category, they will advance to the state competition in April. Their instructor is Sarah McCafferty, paramedic, EMS instructor, and director of Beaver Island EMS.
Good Luck, Beaver Island HOSA students at the regional competition!
Fantastic Results
(from Sarah McCafferty, Health Occupations teacher)
Kaylyn Jones, Alex Kuligoski, Brogan Maudrie, and Claire Kenwabikise placed in the top 10 in their category at the HOSA Regional Competition. Brighid Cushman received a bronze medal in her competition, Michael McCafferty and Billy Lemmink received bronze medals, Jamie Campbell received a Gold Medal for Health Poster Competition, this years topic was The Medical Field, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. All of these eight students have the opportunity to participate in the State HOSA competition.
The trip was a great learning experience, and I am sopProud of each and everyone of the Beaver Island HOSA students.
Fundraiser for Rory Connaghan
There will be a free will donation pizza buffet at the Shamrock on February 22, 2010 from 5-8 pm.
Make any checks payable to Rory Connaghan.
BIRHC to Provide Dermatologist for Island Visits
The Beaver Island Rural Health Center announced this morning that Dr. Murray Cotter, Dermatologist, will be seeing patients at the rural health center beginning on April 23, 2010. Dr. Cotter is a member of the Dermatology Assoiciates of Northern Michigan, P.C. and the director of this group. Dr. Cotter completed medical school at the University of Michigan followed by a residency in Dermatology at the University of Utah. He has also completed fellowship training in the Mohs Surgery and Cosmetic Dermatology at the University of California at San Francisco. Dr. Cotter is board certified in Dermatology and is pleased to be back home in Michigan providing the full spectrum of skin care at their offices in Petoskey, Gayloard, St. Ignace, and Beaver Island.
To make an appointment with Dr. Cotter, call his office 231-487-2230. They will schedule you for your appointment here at the BIRHC. If you need further information, please call the BIRHC at 448-2275.
Dermatology Associates of Northern Michigan, P.C. has its office in Petoskey at 2240 Mitchel Park Drive. They have a website at: http://www.dermatologyassociatesonline.com
Senior Valentine's Dinner at Community Center
Fifty-three seniors attended the excellent barbeque chicken dinner at the Beaver Island Community Center on Sunday, February 14, 2010, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Kathy and Dan Merriman posed for a picture in the kitchen.
The social time for seniors was greatly appreciated as many gathered here for the dinner before heading home after church. Good food, good conversation, and good social time.
A good crowd in attendance...
Ski Plane on Lake Geneserath
February 13, 2010, Public Landing from 12-4 p.m.
This event went off without a hitch, no bad weather, no lack of fun, and no lack of food. The atmosphere was one of welcoming, and the canoe rides and the ski plane rides were a lot of fun. Two wonderfully cooperative people took the time to take some video of the event. Rachel Teague and Mike Hurkmans, thank you very much for your help in getting this event documented.
Video Clips from Lake Geneserath Winter Fun:
Rachel Teague's
Hurkmans' 1
Hurkmans' 2
Hurkmans' 3
Beaver Island Boys Victorious in Grand Marais
(as reported by Coach Martell)
This last weekend, the Beaver Island boys' team defeated Grand Marais 74-70 on Friday and 61-58 on Saturday. Friday we had three players in double figures with Bryan scoring 28 and Dereck and Cameron both scoring 15. Bryan led the scoring on Saturday again with 17, William had 16, and Cameron had 13. Dereck led with 12 rebounds on Friday and Doug led with 14 on Saturday.
Friday the Islanders were down 14-4 in the first quarter and really had to battle the whole game. The seniors really stepped up to ensure victory. Saturday’s game was not as close as the score makes it seem. Grand Marais hit a last second three and had made a run late in the game when the coach was rotating the non-starting younger players into the game. Beaver Island was up by double digits the entire third quarter and could have kept it that way if the coach had not backed off and rotated everyone into the game.
Beaver Island Basketball at Northport
(Story and pictures by Frank Solle)
The Islanders traveled to the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula this past Tuesday to play the Northport Wildcats in a pair of non-conference basketball games. While the hosts were very cordial and welcoming off the court, once the games tipped off they were tenacious, intense, more physical and more experienced than any other opponents the Islanders play. That combination didn't bode well for the Green and White, and despite the hard play over the two games by the Islanders they came up short in both contests with the girls losing 52-38 and the boys 59-39.
The defensive pressure applied by both Wildcat teams created numerous turnovers in each game, often leading to easy baskets by the 'Porters. Each Northport team also had strong senior leaders, the girls with Bryton Collins and the boys with Jason Tropf. Collins finished with eight points and seven rebounds while Tropf led all scores with 24 points in the boys game and pulled down 11 rebounds. A versatile 6-4 player, Tropf hit one three, missed an attempted break-away dunk, and showed he is an All-State caliber player for the 7-5 Wildcats.
Alex Kuligoski and Claire Kenwabikise led the Lady Islanders with eight points apiece. Kristy Bousquet added six, with Olivia Schwartzfisher, Olivia Cary, and Jenna Butler all netting four. Brighid Cushman finished with three and Jenna Battle added one.
The girls trailed 12-6 after the first quarter and 20-10 at the break. A 6-2 run to open the third quarter pulled them back to 22-16, but the Wildcats responded a 16-6 run to close the quarter holding a 38-22 advantage. The Islanders outscored the Wildcats over the final eight minutes 16-14, including a nice 11-4 run over the closing minutes.
Pictures of Lady Islander game HERE
The boys managed to stay closer to their Wildcat opponents through the first half, building early leads of 4-2 and 6-5 in the opening quarter before Tropf scored a pair of inside buckets to put the 'Porters ahead 9-6 after eight minutes of play. Northport opened the second quarter on an 8-2 run, but the Islanders countered with a similar scoring spree capped by a Billy Lemmink triple to stay within three at 19-16 before the Wildcats closed the half with a 23-18 lead. Three more three-pointers, two by Lemmink and one by Gus Connaghan kept the Islanders in striking distance heading into the final quarter, 36-28. But an 11-0 run by the Wildcats to start the final period took the air out of the Islanders sails and an 8-0 Northport run late in the quarter sealed the Islanders fate.
Bryan Timsak and Connaghan each scored 10 for the Islanders. Lemmink added nine and Dereck McDonough eight. Cameron LaVasseur rounded out the scoring with two points.
Northport coach Jeff Tropf summed up the game this way, "We played pretty well at times, but I think we just had a little more athleticism is all." But Tropf also acknowledged the efforts of Islanders seniors Timsak and McDonough. "You've got a couple great players and I told both of them they are great athletes and just fun to watch." Tropf was also impressed by one of Connaghan's long treys, "He hit a three-point shot from the volleyball line and not many kids can do that." He also commented on Lemmink's triples, "He hit three of those right in our face and we shouldn't let that happen."
Both Northport coaches, Tropf and Casey Wilcox (Islanders Superintendent Kitty McNamara's niece) said they enjoyed the games and would like to see this event happen again. "I'm hoping we can set this up yearly," Wilcox said. "It would be a lot of fun." Tropf capped the night by saying, "They were great games, great fun, and it was a great night all the way around."
Pictures of the Islander game HERE
More on Habitat Management
(from email)
Regarding the forwarded email. I am not sure what context or discussion this email was taken from or where it was intended to go in its final format. I agree with some of what is written in the email regarding management. I agree that clearcutting beech-sugar maple forests is generally a poor idea, especially the few remaining stands that contain the suite of late successional species and a complex forest structure and stands that are “on the cusp” of this successional stage. That said, eliminating clearcutting in general is not a good idea and there may even be times when clearcutting a specific northern hardwoods stand is the appropriate management activity. Here are my thoughts backing up this statement in no particular order. Please see the attached article for a much more eloquent and well organized argument supporting clear cutting as a tool in forest management.
I think that clearcutting has been given a bad rap in the forwarded email. The diversity and productivity of an even aged forest stand (aspen, alder, hardwoods, etc.) can be very high. There are many species of birds that breed only in these types of stands, many of which are attractive to bird watchers in their own right. From my experience bird watchers like seeing lots of birds and adding them to their lists, having a diversity of habitats attracts a diversity of bird species, thus shouldn’t it be true that maintaining diverse habitats on the island would attract the most bird watchers and their dollars?
In the Technical Guide to Forest Wildlife Habitat Management in New England edited by DeGraaf, Yamasaki, Leak, and Lester (all researchers at the USFS Northeastern Research Station) they list 13 bird species that occupy a clearcut hardwood forest in the first 1-3 years after it is cut but disappear from the forest once it reaches 7-15 years in age (or less). They list 149 species of mammals, amphibian, birds, and herps that are associated with clearcut hardwoods and aspen/birch forests. They also list 118 species that are associated with closed canopy northern hardwood stands that receive no treatment. Many, but not all, of the species listed use both habitats. Is one habitat “better” than the other…of course not. There are many species of wildlife in northern Michigan that require different habitats. To treat one type of habitat as preferred eliminates species that require other types of habitat. What will come of the American woodcock, chestnut-sided warblers, golden-winged warblers, and ruffed grouse, to name a few, if early successional forest is eliminated or drastically reduced on Beaver Island? If clearcutting is taken off the table as a management option then maintaining early successional habitat will be totally dependent on natural events such as tornados, insect infestations, and fires. These natural events have been present on Beaver Island since the glaciers receded and have frequently reduced old growth northern hardwood stands to piles of wood and stumps surrounded by open sky and thus making room for the successional cycle to begin again. Do these events occur frequently enough on the island to provide habitat for the species that need it? I’m not sure but I doubt it.
Snags and other course woody debris can, and should, be maintained in any clearcut to address the habitat and ecosystems needs pointed out in the email. This material functions just like the dead wood in the beech-maple forest mentioned in the email. In the aspen regeneration cuts we perform we maintain all standing dead trees, create them if there are too few, and always leave a portion of the cut to rot on the ground (never in large piles). All tops are left on the site as well and are sometimes formed into loose brush piles for wildlife habitat.
Initially, these clearcuts are visually unappealing. But, given the few short years they need to regenerate they can become quite beautiful. I think many people find the sight of trembling aspen leaves in the summer or the golden yellow aspen stand in the fall aesthetically appealing. Think of Colorado in the fall (minus the mountains of course). I think these forests are some of the most beautiful places to be in the fall in northern Michigan. If I get to drive past or through a northern hardwood stand in its full autumn glory, even better. It is the diversity of the landscape that can make it beautiful AND support healthy wildlife populations. For example, white-tailed deer will browse young aspen in a clearcut and bed in a dense protected cedar grove. In the spring does will hide their fawns in dense aspens or thick grassy areas. Fall will often find them searching for acorns and beech nuts in the beech-maple forests. A ruffed grouse’s diet is primarily large aspen buds in the winter found on old aspen trees, usually near an area with dense conifers used for cover. In spring they will use the dense early successional forest for nesting and protecting their broods. When autumn rolls around they are searching out areas with soft and hard mast. What is initially visually unappealing becomes beautiful and turns into fantastic wildlife habitat REQUIRED by many species of wildlife at various times of the year.
The pre European settlement maps of Michigan are only one snapshot in time. It would be reckless to try to mimic this habitat composition as the end all be all of the archipelago ecosystem. They do give us a good idea of what ecosystems were present on the island but they do not tell us much about what was there 100, 500 or even a 1000 years before that. Perhaps there was a large tornado that went through the island creating huge aspen stands and tremendous amounts of downed wood that increased subsequent fire intensities. Maybe the surveyors in the 1800’s were not as interested in the aspen or found it a poor use of time to document the numerous small stands created by fires or tornados. The data in these maps is fascinating and can be used for very rough management planning but in the end is a bit course to make fine tuned stand level decisions.
To directly address a statement in the email, I am suggesting that a forest management plan be put in place that includes rotational clearcuts for appropriate species (aspen, alder, possibly some hardwood stands), on a time frame that is appropriate to the species in question. These cuts should be done on soils without steep slopes and follow all other BMP’s to reduce erosion and impacts on adjacent water quality. Snags and course woody debris should be maintained; soft and hard mast species (i.e., nannyberry, hawthorns) should not be damaged during the cuts and planted as needed. Cuts should only be made during the dormant season to reduce erosion, avoid most wildlife breeding periods, and promote the best regeneration. Adjacent sites should be planted with a diverse mix of soft and hard mast species to replace the mast lost as beech bark disease moves through the island. I am by no means suggesting that all forest stands need to be clearcut or put into a cutting rotation. The goal is to maintain habitat and species diversity. Keeping early successional habitat in place on the island is vital to achieving this goal. It will also give private landowners a valuable source of income and possibly an incentive to not parcel up their undeveloped property.
In closing, properly performed and planned clearcuts with maintaining wildlife habitat as the main goal can replicate the natural disturbances that have been occurring on the island for millennia and will not increase soil erosion, invasive species, or fire risks. They will help maintain vital forest and shrub habitat that is used by numerous species of wildlife and, in conjunction with the preservation of late successional beech-maple stands, lead to a diverse and healthy ecosystem on Beaver Island. The Conservation Resource Alliance strongly suggests that responsible and well planned clear cutting to maintain early successional habitat be included in any future Beaver Island management planning.
Best Regards,
Eric J. Ellis
Biologist/Manager
Wild Link Program
(231) 946-6817
Eric@rivercare.org
I very much agree with Eric. Too often we forget about the natural and necessary successional reset mechanisms, such as fire, that we have eliminated and artificially allowed these systems to reach climax, ultimately loosing ecosystem structure and function.--Don
Dr. Donald G. Uzarski
Director of CMU Biological Station
Director of Great Lakes and Environmental Research
Associate Professor
Department of Biology
Central Michigan University
Brooks 156
Mount Pleasant, MI 48859
CORNED BEEF RAFFLE
The AMVETS Post #46 Ladies Auxiliary will raffle off a Corned Beef Dinner on Friday, March 19, 2010. The Dinner will include everything needed for a boiled corned beef dinner. Ticket sales will be from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the Shamrock, Beachcomber and Donegal Dan's Pub, with the drawing shortly after 7:00 at Donegal Dan's Pub. Tickets are $1.00 each or 6/$5. Look for these ladies to buy your chance on a good old-fashioned Irish meal. Sorry, you have to cook it yourself!
Proceeds from this raffle will be used to help the Auxiliary sponsor their community projects.
Peaine Township Meeting 2/10/2010
While the editor was unable to attend the meeting, arrangment were made with Mike Hurkmans to attend and video tape the meeting. The editor was teaching an EMT-Specialist class at the governmental meeting. However, the meeting can be viewed by video tape, and after spending several hours capturing, editing, converting, and uploading the 44 video clips from the meeting, the editor feels competent to make a few comments. The animosity between individual board members and between the board members and members of the audience is quite obvious. When the subject of reappraisal came up in the meeting, there were many strong views about how and when this work would get done. Some even suggested that there was absolutely no way the township supervisor, the assistand supervisor, and the current assessor could get the job done before the State of Michigan took over the assessment role from Peaine Township. Individual board members suggested that they felt left out of the meetings with those that had received a Request for Proposal for this reappraisal job. The public still seemed quite concerned that the current assessor, nor the supervisor, nor the assistant supervisor had completed the first five steps of the plan that was approved by the State of Michigan for Peaine Township to come into compliance with the fourteen point review. Jack Gallagher assured everyone that this job will be done and it will be done correctly.
The discussion of the amendment of the Joint Township Meeting Minutes from January 2010 was also quite heated with a member of the audience calling for a "Point of Order" and declaring this discussion to be out of order. Another exclaimed with a reference to the former airport committee, "Just hang them all." Of course, his reference as interpreted by this editor, and since he was a former airport committee member, was that that was what the supervisor was trying to do to the airport committee members. In actuality, the expansion of the airport means one thing to one person, and another thing to another person. The real issue here is that those having a discussion about the airport expansion do not have the same definition in mind as they discussed it. One side seems to think that the necessity to increase the property in order to trim trees for the west approach is what is meant by airport expansion. Another side thinks that the proposed building of another terminal is the definition of the airport expansion. What is necessary is a face-to-face discussion about the definitions and then a serious and successful discussion can begin.
You can view the video clips of the meeting if you wish to know more about what happened at this Peaine Township meeting:
Review of the bills--Question about the cost of RFP's
Review of bills question about software purchase for reappraisal
Discussion about the bills and availability of 48 hours before the meeting
Bills to be available 48 hours before the meeting MOTION
Peaine Township paying taxes on airport property discussion
Annual electors meeting and budget hearing meeting discussion
Annual electors meeting and budget hearing meeting discussion 2
Annual electors meeting and budget hearing meeting discussion 3 set as March 27, 2010
Board of Review Appointments to last til 12-31-2010
Waste Managment Committee Appointments to last til 12-31-2010
Joint township projects procedure discussed
Reappraisal Discussion 4 attendance of 3 board members = special meeting
Reappraisal Discussion 5 Ed Wojan comments
Reappraisal Discussion 6 Jack and Ed discussion
Reappraisal Discussion 7 Jack and Ed discussion
Reappraisal Discussion 8 Jack and Ed discussion
Reappraisal Discussion 9 Donna Stambaugh asks a question
Reappraisal Discussion 10 Ed Wojan says the money will be well spent for reappraisal
Reappraisal Discussion 11Terry Saxton asks question
Reappraisal Discussion 12 Peaine Board members want to be included
High Speed Internet Discussion 1
High Speed Internet Discussion 2
High Speed Internet Discussion 3 Ed Wojan comments
High Speed Internet Discussion Tina Walker informs the board
Sound System and conference phone now available
Generators for Peaine Hall and Peaine Firehall discussed
Township hall cleaning with Pete LoDico
Needed Township Committee and Commission appointments to be made at March meeting
Bills approved working to approve minutes
Addition to minutes of joint meeting passed out and read aloud
Joint Meeting Minutes proposed amendment 1
Joint Meeting Minutes proposed amendment 2 public comment
Joint Meeting Minutes proposed amendment 3 Larry Kubic comment
Joint Meeting Minutes proposed amendment 4 Paul Welke and Judi Lanier comments
Public discussion while Jack locates posting for Joint Meeting
Airport Expansion from the Notice for Joint Meeting and Jack explanation
Terry Saxton say hang everbody and more minutes changes
Motion to approve Minutes and motion to adjourn
Shamrock Fantastic February
BI News Server Crashes
UPDATE: It's interesting how much work a server crash can provide to the website editor. None of the subscriber information was included in the upload, when the website was uploaded to the new server. This creates a great deal of extra work for the editor, who must not only check the website pages to make certain they have all uploaded properly, but also to re-enter all subscriber information. Imagine what a job this would be if there was no backup of the data. Some people might even give up, but not this editor. A few hours of extra time and a few moments of frustration were not to deter this editor from accomplishing this goal.
If you have had any difficulty accessing the Beaver Island News on the 'Net website, it may be that the editor was working on the subscriber list at that time. You may have had a few moments during the day on February 9, 2010, that the website was not available. If so, we apologize, but know that we are determined to get the website back to its original state. Thank you for your patience.
The webserver that hosts Beaver Island News on the 'Net crashed and died today, February 5, 2010. The host of the website stated that it should be back up and running soon, but it didn't get back up right away. As a matter of fact, in order to get it back up and working, the editor had to upload everything from the year 2009 and 2010 so far. It took most of the afternoon and into the evening to upload the whole website to the new server. It should be working now. If you are reading this, then it is working. There is still more checking to do to make sure that everything uploaded properly. It may take a day or two to resolve any issues.
Green's Bay Has Wonderful Ice Sculptures
If you get to Green's Bay and then walk about a mile further south, you will see some wonderful natural Ice Sculptures made from the water, the wind, and snow. There are many ways to get out on the ice, but the most important words is to do is CAREFULLY! Walking out to the edge of the ice where the water meets it can be a dangerous experience, so pick your route and your steps very judiciously.
Video Clip from out on the ice HERE
More pictures from this adventure HERE
Deer on Sloptown Road
There were plenty of deer visible on Sunday afternoon, February 7, 2010, in a hay field on both sides of the Sloptown Road.
Video Clip of Deer near Sloptown Road HERE
Petition to Stop Asian Carp
Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox has developed a website ( www.stopasiancarp.com ) and is asking for your signature to put pressure on the powers in Washington D.C. to approve shutting down the canal system in Illinois to prevent the spread of the invasive Asian Carp into the Great Lakes and eventually into the rivers of the state of Michigan (such as the Grand River, the St. Joseph river, the Detroit River, the Red Cedar river etc.). Most of you have heard or read the testimonials from the biological experts who have stated if the carp make it into Lake Michigan it will devastate the fishing industry in the Great Lakes region and eventually do great harm to the tourism industry in this state as well as the other states which have shores on any of the Great Lakes.
In December it was reported that DNA material from the Asian carp was found within 6 miles of Lake Michigan. In today’s news (1/12/2010) more DNA material has been found within just a mile or two of the opening to Lake Michigan.
Cox is asking for all our help to go onto his site and electronically sign his petition to help put political pressure on Washington to take immediate action. President Obama ran on a platform that he would be the “Great Lakes President” and was adamant that we could not allow invasive species, like the Asian Carp, into the Great Lakes. But last week he announced he would not support the move to close the Illinois canal system. He is facing political pressure from his home state of Illinois, the only Great Lakes state that is fighting the closure of the canal system. Political pressure has to come to bear on Washington to change the Administration’s stance on this.
Would you look at the website listed above and if you are in agreement, electronically sign the petition? Also, please forward this information to your friends, relatives and other contacts who live in Michigan. Time is critical on this issue. As Cox states on his website, once they get into Lake Michigan we won’t get a second chance to stop the devastation that will occur.
Islanders Sweep the Mackinaw Island Lakers
The Lady Islanders may have given everyone present a little raise in blood pressure due to the closeness of the game on Saturday, but the Lady Islanders won both games, Friday night and Saturday morning. In this last of the homegames, the level of excitement was obvious. The boys also gave some excitement, but for another reason. They were much deeper in the bench than the Lakers, and when the best player on the Laker team was called for his third foul, it was time for him to sit on the bench. The Islanders then ran away with the game. All four games were a game of fouls as well as a game that was won by excellent defensive play.
More on Friday and Saturday Islander Basketball HERE
St. James Township Meeting
The St. James Township Board Meeting took place on Wednesday, February 3, 2010, beginning at 7:30 p.m. This meeting was longer than the majority of this township's meetings, lasting more than an hour and twenty minutes, but this was for a very good reason. Several audience members had excellent questions related to the reappraisal of property in St. James Township, and these questions were more than adequately answered by the two partners in the running for the re-appraisal bids. These two ladies were much more prepared and actually came to the Island to support their proposal. Their proposal was about $30,000 less than the other proposal received with cost to St. James property owners of approximately $68,000..
For those without high speed Internet, the library board posting brought three applicants, and the Board chose Lori Saunders to take this position. The other two applicants were present at the meeting and were asked if they wanted to be considered for the Human Resources Commission. Kathy Tidmore was appointed to fill the St. James position to this organization. The minutes of this meeting should be available in about a week and will be posted when received.
Video Clips:
Discussion about contacting joint township attorney
Rick Speck introduces reappraisal proposal one
Rick Speck introduces the persons present to present proposal two
Reappraisal Discussion 12 Motion
Reappraisal Discussion 13 Reschedule Hearings
Human Resources Commission Appointment
Salary Resolutions for St James Board
(Editor's note: At this point, the tape was full, so any further comments are not recorded.)
Beaver Island Ice Classic
The 2009 Beaver Island ice classis is under way after the indomitable launch team of Bob Banville, Ed Troutman and Don Tritsch placed the tower on the ice February 3 rd . The purpose ofthe contest is to guess the day, hour and minute when the tower will go through the ice. Last year the tower went into the water on March 29 th and the winner collected over $600!
Ticket proceeds will be shared 50/50 and the net proceeds go to help operate the Beaver Island Community Center.
Tickets are$5.00 each or 6 for $20.00 and are available from any PABI board member, the Community Center or at McDonough's market. If anyone off the island is interested tickets contact Bob Tidmore at 231-448-3088 or e-mail him at b_tidmore@hotmail.com .
Island Treasures Resale Shop News
If you have nothing interesting to do on these long winter days, clean out that closet, attic, basement or garage and bring your unwanted "Treasures" to Island Treasures Resale Shop. We can always use your donations of clean, gently used clothing; men's, women's and children's. We also will take donations of small appliances, furniture, children's books, cookbooks, and dishes. We also have all of our winter coats on sale at this time.
Our hours are 12:00 noon until 4:00 p.m. THURSDAY, FRIDAY & SATURDAY
If you are unable to bring the donation to the shop yourself, call Donna Stambaugh at 448-2797, and she will arrange to pick up your donation, or call the shop during the hours that we are open, and we will make arrangements with you. Resale Shop phone number is 448-2534
Thank you, Resale Shop Staff.
Anyone Ready to Practice Golf?
Frank Solle took this picture out on the Beaver Island Golf Course. Is there any way to fill up a foursome to go out and wade through the snow and play a few holes of golf? Count this editor in if anyone else wants to go. The golf clubs are still in the trunk of the car ready and waiting.
Multiple Casualty Training Event
The adult MFR class is coming to a close with practical testing on Monday, February 1, 2010, and written course exam testing on February 3, 2010. As part of the review of all skills learned, this training event was scheduled as a simulation. So........
Imagine you called out to a three vehicle multi-casualty incident. The vehicles involved in the training exercise included a transit bus with an unknown number of passengers. Once on scene, you note that you have only eight medical providers and nine patients that need your help. What would YOU do?
On Saturday, January 30. 2010, twelve people gathered in the dark at the Governmental Center to prepare the patients, equipment, and the vehicles for a training and educational event for the adult MFR program sponsored by BIEMS. The event was to demonstrate the overwhelming situation of having more patients than a system is designed to handle. Since no real events could have been photographed due to privacy concerns, the training event gives a perfect opportunity to see the training while in progress, and, of course, to learn what types of training that our local volunteers go through in preparation for something we hope will never happen here.
If you are not the type of person who wishes to look at the patient's simulated injuries, do not click on this link. If you are interested in the training and would like to see the patients and more about this training, please click HERE.
Editorial
There still seems to be a misunderstanding between local government officials and committee members. This editorial will run for at least one more week. I would gladly sit down with a couple of people from each "side" and try to get the communication started. There is plenty of bickering going on, plenty of blame to be spread around, and not much getting done in the way of governing. There are still too many emotions lingering to get much accomplished. So here is a public offer to mediate between the two groups that seem to be forming--one siding with the airport committee and one siding against the airport committee.
While some get bent out of shape by one sentence of a particular opinion statement and can't seem to see the substance, I prefer to look at the whole thing, and then step back away from what I've read, take some time to roll it around in the big, empty space between my ears, and then I go back and read it again trying not to put my own negative emotions into what I've read, but, instead, try to purposely take the writer's side, and see where that takes me.
Here is an example: Fred got his job because he knows Joe.
It can be read in many ways, and sometimes we let our mind read it in only ONE way. See if you can understand what I am suggesting by reading this sentence in these different ways:
• FRED (I don't like Fred) got HIS job because he knows JOE (I'm not sure about Joe).
• Fred (the lucky stiff) got his job (only) because he knows Joe.
• Fred got his job BECAUSE (and only because) he KNOWS (his best friend) Joe.
• FRED (the bad person) got HIS (It's his because of his badness) JOB (who'd want to do it anyway) because (and only because) he KNOWS (his best friend) JOE (I don't like Joe.)
So, the next time you read something, perhaps you should take a few moments and try to empathize with the writer. Perhaps, try to look at the writing from a different perspective. Perhaps, just once when reading something that makes you mad, try to pretend that the writer is your best friend and you know that (s)he would never write something purposely to inflame you. Perhaps, take some time to think about what was written. Perhaps, try to leave out your negative emotions.
Now, writers, if your purpose is to inflame, then quit beating around the bush. What are you trying to say? In other words, you should fill in (like the parentheses above) in your writing with introductory statements, attempting to show your position and the reasons for that position.
Please remember this wise saying:
Knowledge is power, but meaningless and worthless, without communication of that knowledge.
Suppose some doctor in a little country in Africa accidentally stumbles upon the cure for the most menacing disease on earth. He has the knowledge. The question is: How will the knowledge get to the rest of the physicians on the planet? Will the knowledge get to them? Will they accept this knowledge and move forward to prove that it is accurate or false? OR Will they be so enflamed, because some unknown African doctor has claimed something that they could not have discovered because they were too busy, that they will not do anything with the knowledge?
There is a whole lot of good in the people of Beaver Island, but sometimes we are too close to each other to communicate what we really mean to say. Sometimes, we don't take the time to trust our fellow Islanders. Sometimes, the negative emotions are governing our thoughts and actions. I would say that the communication here on the Island is probably lacking in most of the battles that seem to be raging here, right now. Whether the issue is the airport committee, the waste management committee, or the assessment or reappraisal issue, the lack of communication has caused a great upheaval on Beaver Island. Although this does provide a great deal of news for this web site, it may not really be to the benefit of the residents of Beaver Island. So, let's sit down, talk, and share the information—
Communicate for the benefit of the entire Island.
Human Services Commission Seeks Help
The Beaver Island Human Services Commission is seeking individuals interested in forming a steering committee for the purpose of developing a Human Services-Health Fair for the Fall of 2010. Please contact, Pam Grassmick 231-448-2314, 248-489-0784 or e-mail: mcgrass@ameritech.net.
Wellness Wednesday at Charlevoix Hospital
Charlevoix Area Hospital 's next “Wellness Wednesday” will be from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 3, 2010. The Wellness Wednesday Health Screens include: Cholesterol and Glucose levels, Body Mass Index (BMI) score, Fat Percentage, and a Blood Pressure reading. Cost for the service is $12. Participants will also receive a blood pressure log and pedometer as well as all test results at the time of the screen. A Registered Nurse will adapt health Consultation and educational materials to individual results. Appointments can be made in advance by calling the office of Community Health Education at Charlevoix Area Hospital :
(231) 547-8906 or by email: kjacobsen@cah.org Walk-ins are always welcome.
Joint Township Meeting on January 11, 2010
Peaine Township Board......St. James Township Board.......Airport Committee members......Crowded hall........More audience members
Over 100 video clips of this meeting are HERE (Posted 1/17/10)
The meeting again started and ended on a controversial note. There was disagreement at the beginning about the reason for the meeting. Jack Gallagher had prepared a paper listing several questions that he felt needed to be answered. Don Vyse and other airport committee members (those not on the two township boards) stated that they did not have the information available to answer these questions, and, rather than guess, they were not prepared to answer them. Don, and Mike Scripps agreed, that some of these questions would take research. Jack Gallagher countered with a statement that suggested that anyone involved in the airport expansion project should be able to answer the questions presented. "Not on 10 minutes notice, no," Mike Scripps commented. Don Vyse had believed that the meeting was about the land acquisition, not about answering the topics of these questions. So began another contentious, and over two hour, meeting.
What was the outcome, the bottom line, of the meeting? Both township boards agreed to form a committee made up of two St. James Township Board members, two Peaine Township Board members, and the law firm representing both townships to work out a legal and formal airport authority, OR to hammer out an agreement between the two townships on all aspects of the airport committee. Those members on this committee are Jack Gallagher, Paul Welke, Rick Speck, and Ray Cole. While awaiting the group who will govern the airport, a motion was passed by Peaine, agreeing with the St. James' board's motion, to allow Don Vyse, current airport committee chairperson, to continue the day-to-day operations and decisions regarding the airport.
The above was the entire accomplishment of this over two hour meeting, but before getting to this point, there were many rather heated, emotional comments by many members of the public, as well as the airport committee. Don Vyse took over thirty minutes to enumerate and explain the actions taken by the current airport committee over the last ten years. He explained that all of these actions were voted on by both township boards, which signified their approval. From 2001, where Don began his enumeration, to the current land acquisition issue, Don stated the approval of both boards of all airport committee suggestions to those present.
The most important question was answered. Why is the property acquisition necessary for the Beaver Island Airport? Don Vyse stated that the committee and the townships had basically two choices, the first one nothing that the committee or the board would probably want to do. The Michigan Aeronautics Commission had provided these options to them. Either shorten the existing runway and spend $50,000 to move required equipment at township expense OR obtain the property and make the property conform to the regulation regarding the proper approach requirement for the 4300 foot runway. (The BI project was part of the commission's minutes. You can read them here. ) To make this simple, the reason for the property acquisition was to be able to trim the trees down to make the 4300 foot runway conform to federal and state regulations relating to the approach from the west end of the runway.
Mr. Vyse went on to explain all the actions taken by the airport committee, along with all of the votes by both township boards for the last decade. He stated that the new terminal building was just one part of the five year plan, which was required to be placed in a ten year plan by the Michigan Aeronautics Commission. The issue of the runway was required to be addressed. The other aspects of the plan including the building would cost the local taxpayers just over $25,000 according to Mike Scripps, and the townships would get a million dollars worth of building for this 2.5% local contribution.
Community Players to Present comedy on February 20th
The Beaver Island Community Players will present “A Bad Year for Tomatoes” on Saturday, February 20, 2010, at 8 p.m. at the Beaver Island Community Center. The comedy takes places in a rural community on the East coast and is full of funny, quirky characters that Islanders will love. In the spotlight are: Jan Day, Jeff Powers, Phil Becker, Bob Bass, Joan LaFreniere Banville, Wendy White, and Elaine West. The production is being directed by Jacque LaFreniere, and assistant director is Lisa Gillespie. Tickets are $10 and available at the Community Center.
Citizen of the Year Nominations Are Open
Official 2009 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 Thursday April 1, 2010
Questions: Chamber@BeaverIsland.org or call Steve West, Mon. – Friday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00, at (231) 448-2505
The Award Banquet will be Saturday, April 24, 2010
Emmalee Antkoviak's Condition
UPDATE: February 9, 2010, from facebook:
880 feet this morning! no stopping or slowing down our girl!
1/24/10 It was reported on facebook that Emmalee was able to walk over 200 feet. We BELIEVE!
Mary Free Bed
Emmalee Antkoviak
Room 338
235 Wealthy SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
You can also send an email to:
patient@maryfreebed.com and put Emmalee Antkoviak in the Subject.
Subscriptions to Expire
There are quite a few subscriptions that will expire or that have already expired in March, 2010. 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
BICS Basketball Schedule in 2010
FRIDAY, FEB 19 ** BEAVER ISLAND @ MACKINAC ISLAND **
SAT, FEB 20 BEAVER ISLAND @ MACKINAC ISLAND
** GAMES COUNT TOWARD LEAGUE STANDINGS**
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY FEBRUARY 26 TH & 27 TH
NORTHERN LIGHTS LEAGUE TOURNAMENT-HANNAHVILLE
BEAVER ISLAND MUSIC FESTIVAL
MUSIC IN THE WOODS 2010
JULY 15, 16, & 17 Mark your calendars!
Special Holiday Ticket Sale!
(available now through pay pal)
Thursday: July 15th-General Admission $10.00
(Friday July 16th & Saturday July 17th)
Day Passes: Teen/Senior $20.00 - Adult $25.00
Weekend Passes: Teen/Senior $40.00 - Adult $45.00
Children 12 & under are always FREE!
(Offer ends: 1/01/2009)
BIMF: PO Box 23, Beaver Island, MI 49782
www.bimf.net
231-838-2883
Beaver Island Community Center
BEAVER ISLAND COMMUNITY CENTER
At the Heart of a Good Community
Calendar of Events
January 2010
Thank You SO MUCH for supporting your Beaver Island Community Center !
We have another great year in store...stay tuned!
WINTER & HOLIDAY HOURS:
Mon – Thurs 10am-6pm
Fri – Sat 10am-9pm
Sunday – Closed
MOVIES:
Every Friday and/or Saturday 7pm, PLUS Matinees!
Check www.BeaverIslandCommunityCenter.org or the Community Center for listings
Activities Scheduled.........Senior Center Activities..........
February 2010 COA Menu
FREE Classified Ads
Part of the website cost goes to providing the format and access to FREE classified Ads. Some have used them very successfully. As a subscriber to this website, you get free classified ads posting for all subscribers to read. The classified ads are one of the perks for being a subscriber. Please check them once in a while, and please use them.
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.
Beaver Island Cultural Arts Association 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!)