B. I. News on the 'Net, May 21-27, 2012

Memorial Day Service TODAY

The Memorial Day service took place at the Veteran's Memorial beginning at noon, today, May 28, 2012. Many were there to join the Island veterans in a sincere and heartfelt "Thank you!" to all our service men and women who served our nation, as well as to all those who gave their lives so that we could remain free.

Video of the Service may be viewed HERE

A Committed Pair of Doves

Rock doves mate for life -- they can meet their partner at any time during the year. Both the male and female help with the care and raising of the young. The male builds the nest, and the eggs are laid shortly after the nest is finished. In the nesting territory, both sexes are aggressive, pecking intruders (even people) on the head.

Jim and Donna Stambaugh Win Early Bird Drawing

Jim and Donna Stambaugh won the $1000 drawing today, May 27, 2012. The drawing took place at Dahlwhinnie's with Charlevoix County Deputy Sheriff Travis Williams pulling the winning tickit.

(Thank you to Frank Solle for these pictures.)

Gail's Walk

At 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 27, 2012, many gathered to participate in Gail's Walk, named after Gail Weede who had supported the BICS Sports Boosters. The group gathered and walked the following route: Public beach to the school and left to the Brother's Trail, then right on Karne's to the bike path. Then down to the Back Highway to the top of Gallagher Hill, down to Main Street, out to Whiskey Point, and then back to the public beach.

Gathering and beginning at the public beach.

Even stragglers wouldn't get lost..

Headed to the point.

Headed back toward the public beach

(Thanks to Phyllis Moore for these pictures.)

Paul Welke's Memorial Day Display

Informal video of Paul explaining the items in his collection

Pictures of the display of memorabilia

Uniforms: Marine, Navy, and Army

Two different rifles WWII and Vietnam

Go and check this display out at the Beaver Island terminal of Island Airways

AMVETs Memorial Weekend Sunday Breakfast

By the time this reported took the video and pictures and had eaten a small breakfast, the AMVETs had already served one hundred breakfasts. This is quickly becoming a very special and timely tradition.

AMVETs Sunday Breakfast, May 27, 2012..........................................In the kitchen

AMVETS Breakfast at the Holy Cross Parish Hall

Some of the first hundred to eat breakfast here

Some of the workers....

Some in the kitchen...

Some out of the kitchen....

Gail's Walk TODAY

This is a reminder of Gail's Walk on Sunday, May 27th at 3:00 pm. We would like to thank everyone for their donations to this fund. Some of the funds from the 1st Gail's Walk helped a family in need with medical expenses. This is an annual event and we hope to continue building this fund. We appreciate the continued support. Registration will be open on the day of the walk, and we will have some extra shirts available the day of the walk.

BICS Career Day Final Schedule and Flyer

Career Day Schedule

Career Day Flyer

Memorial Day Breakfast, Sunday, 8:30-noon

AMVETS Post 46
Memorial Day Breakfast
Holy Cross Hall
Sunday May 27th
8:30 AM – Noon
Pancakes Scrambled Eggs
Sausage Coffee
Juice/Milk Fruit Cup

Broder Book to Be Available Soon

This book will arrive this weekend and be available for sale at the merchants mentioned in a story below. This book will also be available at the Beaver Island Rural Health Center, which will receive the proceeds of the sale. The four Broder sons chose the pictures and the columns to be included in the book. The book will sell for $25.00. The title of the book is "The Beaver Island Columns" written by David S. Broder. There will be a "Book Party" on July 3, 2012, at the St. James Township Hall from 5-7 p.m.

After School Program Kids Work in the BIRHC Garden

This afternoon, May 24, 2012, the BICS after school program kids were brought out to the garden at the Beaver Island Rural Health Center. The garden that the BICS students were working in is called the Fairy Garden.

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING

OF THE PEAINE TOWNSHIP BOARD

AT PEAINE TOWNSHIP HALL

SATURDAY MAY 26, 2012

9:00 AM

MEETING PURPOSE: THE BOARD WILL MEET TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:

1) APPROVAL OF BALLOT LANUAGE FOR RENEWAL OF ROADS AND AIRPORT MILLAGE

2) APPOINTMENT OF MEMBER TO PEAINE TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION

3) RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TOWNSHIP TREASURER AND CLERK TO REFUND PENSION BALANCE TO JOSEPH MARTIN

POSTED: MAY 24, 2012

JOHN GALLAGHER, SUPERVISOR

COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON FILE IN CLERK'S OFFICE

NRESC Busy This Summer

1. June 2, 10-4 pm, Peaine Township Hall (PTH), next MSU planning meeting; 7 pm: MSU-facilitated focus group with CMU/BIA.

2. June 18, 6 pm, PTH: Next Executive Committee meeting, if needed.

3. June 27, 3-5 pm : Brian Mastenbrook will present his overview about DNR & the Island – for the public. At Peaine Township Hall. (Community Ctr not available.)

4. At the NRESC meeting on May 21, it was decided to schedule a follow-up meeting in June at which NRESC, without MSU facilitators, will continue working on goals/objectives for natural resource planning. This is set for June 27, 6-9 pm . at Peaine Township Hall. We will serve pizza and beverages.

5. July 16, 6 pm, PTH – Executive Committee, if needed.

6. July 16, 7 pm, PTH -- NRESC regular bi-monthly meeting.

7. August 1-2: MSU facilitated community forum(s) for summer residents (details to be determined)

Freedom of Information Act and Open Meeting Act Presentation

The scheduled presentation covering the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Open Meeting Act (OMA) took place at Peaine Township Hall, yesterday, May 23, 2012. The presentation was scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. and end at 4 p.m., but the questions extended past 4:20 p.m. This presentation was given by Robin Luce Herrmann. Ms. Herrmann is a lawyer who represents the press in FOIA and OMA court actions. She had previously represented the Petoskey News Review (PNR) in a court case after the PNR was denied a FOIA request from the Charelvoix County Prosecutor. The PNR won this court action. The Charlevoix County Prosecutor had been asked to come give this presentation, but no mutually acceptable date had been determined.

The audience just before the presentation began.

Jack Gallagher introduced Robin Luce Herrmann.

An animated, educated, and knowledgeable presenter

Robin Luce Herrmann provided a large amount of information about many aspects of both of these acts and answered several questions related to these specific pieces of law including court decisions and Attorney Generals opinions.

Video of the Presentations Can Be Viewed HERE

A Note from Phragmities Administrator Lisa Welke

Plans for Invasive Species

On Monday, May 21, 2011, a meeting was held for pre-season planning of the control of invasive species on the Beaver Archipelago. Representatives from several different organizations used their combined knowledge to develop a plan for 2012.

We are very fortunate to have The Nature Conservancy (TNC) donating $ 70,000.00 to this program. Their representative, Shaun Howard outlined their plan of paying for a survey of 6000 acres which includes Hog, High & Beaver Island shorelines and some interior areas of Beaver Island. They are going to survey not only for Phragmites, but 23 other invasives. This is going to be invaluable for our island in deciding what our priorities should be in the coming years.

TNC is planning to fund treatment for High and Hog Islands, and the Odawa Tribe has pledged funding to treat Garden Island. The Beaver Island Association was awarded $ 8,500.00 from the D.N.R. Private Land Incentive Program for invasive species control and will work with the townships to fund treatment for Beaver Island. Many thanks to all of these organizations!

Todd Bowen from Cardno JFNew presented the plan for survey and detailed the steps for treatment. JFNew is very experienced in this field and has a lot of respect for the islands and their natural ecosystems. The surveys are slated to begin mid-June, so if you see their crews out & about, please show them our “island hospitality”.

The results of the survey will be available on the MISIN website so everyone can view them. This site has tons of information on invasive species throughout the entire Midwest.

If anybody has questions about the plan or the invasive species please contact:

Lisa Welke

Phone: 231-448-3164 Email: welke65@gmail.com

There is also an Invasive Species Summit on June 14 from 2-5 at the community center. Everyone is welcome. Please stop by and learn more about maintaining the natural beauty of our islands.

BICS School Newsletter for May 2012

Click here to view the four page newsletter

What's Going On Behind the Print Shop Museum?

Dorothy Feltner and Alanna Toro are the appointmented spokespersons for the archeological dig going on behind the Print Shop Museum today, May 22, 2012. The participants have come to Beaver Island from Northern Michigan University in Marquette. There are a total of seventeen students, ten female and seven male, who are participating in the Seminar in Archeological Field Methods. They are staying at the CMU Biological Station for four weeks. The assistant on site is Angie Campbell. This program is under Dr. Scott Demel.

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NMU students working at the dig

Dorothy Feltner, Alanna Toro......Angie Campbell

Two NMU Students Explain

Bill Cashman, director of BIHS

Bill Cashman, BIHS Director, explains

Additional BIRHC Programs

If you were driving past the Beaver Island Rural Health Center today, May 22, 2012, you would have noticed a pretty full parking lot in front of the building. Figuring that there must be something important going on over there, the BINN editor went over to try to find out. Besides, Dr. Wendy White working in her office of dentistry and Sue Solle, FNP, seeing patients for the BIRHC, there were three others in the building providing services to the Island population. One of these comes over twice weekly and another comes twice monthly, and yet another comes twice yearly.

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program

Physical Therapy

Mental Health Services

Dan Taylor

Birds in the Entryway

Young robins, we think....

On Sunday morning, May 27, 2012, the young robins were gone from the nest. A video of the empty nest was not too exciting.

Shamrock and Fuel Barge Headout for Another Load

Got Your Early-Bird Ticket Yet?

Have you purchased your ticket on the vehicle in the picture above? This vehicle is raffled off to raise funds for the Beaver Island Rural Health Center. There will be an Early Bird drawing for $1000 on Sunday, May 27, 2012 at noon, so you better get your ticket soon on the 2012 Silver Metallic Chevy Sonic Seda. The drawing for the winner of the car will take place on September 3, 2012. There will be a maximum of 600 tickets to be sold, and you do not need to be present to win.

This raffle helps the BIRHC provide many services including episodic heatlh care, physical therapy, women's health, well child exam, blood work, X-ray, immunizations, sports physicals, employment phsyicals, insurance physicals, DOT physicals, drug screens, health screening, preventative health care, and routine office procedures.

A provider is on-call 24 hours per day, and can be reached by calling 448-2275. If you have an emergency dial 911.

From Holy Cross Parish Council

Effective May 23, 2012

Summer Mass Schedule for Holy Cross Church

Sunday: 10:00am

Saturday: 5:30pm

Monday and Tuesday and Saturday Mass: 9:00am

Friday Mass: 12:00pm: with Holy Hour Following

Other Liturgies

Rosary before weekday Masses and on Wednesday and Thursday at 9:00am

Confession is heard Saturday from 3:00 to 3:30pm

Community Health Survey

Sponsored by the Northwest Michigan Health Department, this survey will be valuable information for them in future planning. Please take the time to fill out this survey and mail it before May 31, 2012. Information about where to mail it is on the bottom of the form. This form can be printed directly to your printer.

Link to the form HERE

M/V BEAVER ISLANDER CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF SERVICE

BEAVER ISLAND – On Friday May 26 the M/V Beaver Islander will celebrate her 50 year anniversary with her first 2012 voyage. The vessel will depart Beaver Island at 8:20 a.m. and will be making her way through the Pine River Channel for a Charlevoix arrival about 10:30 a.m.

To celebrate the M/V Beaver Islander 's 50 year anniversary, in the month of June, the Beaver Island Boat Company will provide a free one-way passenger ticket to anyone who is celebrating their 50 year wedding anniversary or who was born in 1962. The passenger must provide a valid photo ID with birth date or a marriage certificate.

The Beaver Islander was built in 1962 by Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. out of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin for service to Beaver Island. She is 95 feet in length, 27 feet wide, draws 8 feet with a top speed of 13.5 knots and a maximum capacity of 172 passengers and 10 vehicles. From 1962 to 1997 the Beaver Islander was the primary Beaver Island ferry. Although her work load has been lightened by the M/V Emerald Isle , this season she will still service the island for about 68 round trips! Be sure to check the schedule to ride this classic ferry!

From the CCSD

As Memorial weekend and summer approaches Charlevoix County Sheriff Don Schneider would like to remind boaters of a change in the age requirements for operating personal watercraft (PWCs). Beginning October 2011, a person under the age of 16 shall not operate a personal watercraft on the waters of this state unless the person is not less than 14 years of age and 1of the following circumstances applies:

(a) The person is riding the personal watercraft with his or her parent or guardian or an individual 21 years of age or older designated by the parent or guardian.

(b) The person is operating or riding a personal watercraft at a distance of not more than 100 feet from his or her parent or guardian or an individual 21 years of age or older designated by the parent or guardian.

Michigan requires anybody born after December 31, 1978 to have a boating safety certificate to operate a personal watercraft.

Sheriff Schneider would like to see everyone have a fun and safe boating season. Charlevoix County will be teaching four boating safety courses this summer if anyone is interested in obtaining their boater's safety certificate. You can go to the Charlevoix County Sheriff's Office website http://www.charlevoixcounty. org/sheriff.asp for a schedule of classes.

Permaculture Presentation at CMU Bio Station

May 23, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.

Mute Swan Presentation, Bike Trails, and Garden Island Indian Cemetary

At the Natural Resources and Ecotourism Steering Committee meeting tonight, May 21,2012, there were three presentations lasting just over an hour all together. These presentations included the mute swan presentation that basically showed the invasive species designation, and how to tell the invasive from the native swans. The second presentation was a short presentation and discussion about designating some trails on Beaver Island as bike trails. The third presentation was an introduction to the Indian Cemetary on Garden Island and the destruction taking place.

Video of all three presentations can be viewed HERE

SPECIALS at STONEY

Munchie Monday Buy 2 Starters...and get 1/2 off the lesser of the two!
TEX-MEX Tuesday $2 off our Home made Tex-Mex Entree's...
(excludes Queso's & Nacho's) & $1 off our House made Sangria's!
WINE Down Wednesday $1 off a Glass & $3 off a Bottle
PLUS...They're baaaaaack...
Stoney's FAMOUS Baby Back BBQ RIBS Every Thursday Night Starting May 24th! YUM! YUM!
Friday's Yellow LAKE PERCH Basket or Dinner's
Saturday's 10% off ALL STEAKS Ribeye's, N.Y.'s, Sizzler's...and our ONE POUND PORTERHOUSE !
LIVE MUSIC FRIDAY & SATURDAY with DANNY, DANNY, CINDY & friends!
Sunday's Complimentary Hot Dog Buffet Noon-5pm & Our Bloody DANNY Bar!
Happy Hour ALL Day & Jim & Pam's PIZZA 5-8:30
FRESH WHITE FISH TOO!
Great Food, Good Times, Low Prices!
Our best to you,
Stoney & Staff

Vern Vance Passes Away

VERN R. VANCE, 81, of Traverse City, passed away Friday, May 18, 2012.

TRAVERSE CITY ---Vernon Vance died at home on May 18, 2012, with his family nearby. Vern was born in Kenosha, Wis., in 1930, to Ralph and Minnie Vance. He grew up in Belding, where he was active in sports and scouting, attaining the rank of Eagle Scout before graduating from Belding High School. He attended Central and Western Michigan University and received a B.S. in Education. He accepted a teaching position at Ionia High School, where he was instrumental in developing the boy's gymnastics program, winning a state championship in 1962.
It was in Ionia that he met Sharon Hoy, and they were married in 1957. The next year they had a son, Blake and a daughter, Lisa arrived two years later. They moved to Lansing in 1965, and Vern taught at Waverly Schools, where he coached many sports. He later received a master's degree from M.S.U., making him a Spartan for life. In 1974 the family bought a cottage on Beaver Island and moved there every summer. Vern enjoyed the beautiful sunsets (grading each one). It was on the island that he raised monarch butterflies, helped protect the piping plovers and taught drivers training.
After retiring from teaching Vern and Sharon moved to Traverse City to help raise their grandkids. They spent many winters on the Gulf of Mexico in Orange Beach, Ala., with their snowbird friends. Vern's hobbies included cycling, tennis, swimming, shooting pool, playing cards, watching sports and cooking for his family.
Vern is survived by his wife of 55 years, Sharon; his brother, Keith; son, Blake (Susan); daughter, Lisa Gillespie (Robert); and grandkids, Brady, Mackenzie and Lily Vance and Cody Gillespie. A memorial gathering is being planned for later in June. In lieu of flowers, the family would like friends to consider donating blood or making memorial contributions to Michigan Blood.
Please share thoughts with the family at Vern's online guestbook at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com . The family is being served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

Week 2 Men's Golf League

Museum Week Schedule

Although this information is pushed together to get as much information as possible in as little space as necessary, it looks as if the week called Museum Week on Beaver Island will be full of interesting sessions.Monday, July 16, 2012, beginsthis week with Antje Price, the Protar Lady, out at the Protar Home from 1-3 p.m., followed in the evening with Music on the Porch beginning at 7:30 p.m. Kathy Speck will be the Master of Ceremonies. Remember to bring a chair as the evening is usually crowded in the road in front of the Print Shop Museum.

Tuesday find the CMU's Great Lakes Research Station open for tours out in the former USCG Boathouse. Tours will take place all day with Don Uzarski, the Biological Station's director. Pinky Harmon will be running the Bingo games that are scheduled at 7 p.m., Tuesday evening at the Holy Cross Parish Hall.

Wednesday begins the three day Art Show at the Gregg Fellowship Center including a weaver, spinner, and a new book from noon until five,. Wednesday is also the a day of Island archeology beginning at the Boyle Farm and ending with a presentation "Everything you want to know about Island archeology by Deb Rotman."

Thursday is a field trip for children with Jim Gillingham, The art show continues, followed by a 2 p.m. presentation on the South Fox Lighthouse. The evening will have "Biological Discoveries of the Little Traverse Band" with Bill Parsons.

Friday is the last day of the Art Show at the Gregg Fellowship Center. The Protar Home is again open from 1-3 p.m. with Antje Price. A CMU-TV film will be shown at 4:30 p.m. The evening brings a presentation of "What's Down There?" showcasing the underwater adventures of Ross Richardson in Lake Michigan,.

Saturday is the Pet Show at the Print Shop Museum plus all day there will be a "Demonstration of Blacksmithing Skill" at the Heritage Park. The evening will be the "Hey, Smith," a presentation of the art and life of modern artists-blacksmiths with Lance Olson and friends.

Sunday ends Museum Week with "The Dennis Banks Film Project" with Dennis Banks and Darren James.

First Annual Career Day

May 29, 2012

8:30-11:50 a.m.

Flyer for Career Day

Schedule for Career Day

News from the Chamber

Beaver Island was featured in both the print and online versions of Hour Magazine Detroit.

http://www.hourdetroit.com/Hour-Detroit/May-2012/Pleasure-Islands/index.php?cparticle=3&siarticle=2#artanc

By unanimous vote The Faces of American Freedom was chosen by Chamber of Commerce directors as the July 4th parade theme.

Short Interview with Kay Charter The Bird Lady

What are you doing here on Beaver Island today?

What can residents of the island do to help?

BICS Students Find Scarlet Tanager

(Thanks to Frank Solle for the photo of the scarlet tanager.)

Kay Charter came over to Beaver Island to make a presentation and take them out into the field to actually use some of the skills that the students have researched over the last few days. The students had researched four birds, and, as amazed as the students were, so were the adults, as they sighted one of those four birds, the scarlet tanager. They were using the binoculars for the first time and looked up into the tree branches with the leaves coming out to search for these four bird types.

The 7th and 8th graders road in the transit bus out to Protar's Tomb. On the way they passed the osprey perched in a dead tree across the road from the microwave tower.

These pictures included the students looking and pointing, then posing, then Ms.McNamara poses with Kay Charter.

"There it is. You see it? A scarlet tanager. Cool!" and off they went in search of more birds

Kay Charter pauses to give BINN an interview.

All in all an excellent two hours in the life of a 7th and 8th grade BICS student

PEACE GARDEN TAKES A CORNER OF THE BIRHC WELNESS GARDEN

Thanks to the careful planning, propagating, and caring over the winter, Heidi Vigill (BI Gardens) has put into the ground a new section of the Welllness Garden. Her Peace Garden, honoring our Angels in White (BI Hospice), and in memory of those they served with such love and devotion over the years, has come to fruition with the help of some of our gardening committee: Connie Wojan, Dana D'Andraia, Mary Jean Pike and Leonor Jacobson.
The beautiful pear tree, peonies, roses, as well as various perennials are provided by Heidi. She also will incorporate Ruth Igoe's white irises, Joyce Runberg's white phlox, Joyce Erber's shasta daisies and Joanne Cashman's white roses. Future plantings will also include hydrangeas from Jeff Powers, and annuals from Denise McDonough's and Cherl's flower sales. How nice to have the cooperation of many islanders on this project. Stop by and see what we have going on. Jim Wojan has dropped off the mulch, the Lighthouse schoolkids have spread it , as well as several CMU Masters students. The BICS Rangers are also prepping the Fairy Garden this week for your enjoyment. Things are growing in our Wellness Garden!!

Letter from Charlevoix Airport Manager

Dear Airport Users and Patrons-

Airport and City Management are happy to announce that the repairs and upgrades to the jet fuel system are getting close to being completed.  The new jet fuel skid is scheduled to be installed and completed by the end of May, 2012.  The new jet skid will also be relocated closer to the underground storage tanks and away from its current location in the middle of the ramp (close to Island Airway's hangar).  This will help eliminate a bottleneck situation, improve safety/efficiency and upgrade to newer jet fueling equipment.  In addition, the Airport looks to long-term relocate the Avgas dispensers to the underground storage tank area as well.  When all of these improvements are completed it will completely eliminate the current above-ground dispensers that are currently bottlenecking ramp operations.   One of our current FAA FY2012 entitlement projects is to design, expand and improve the current ramp area.  This project will increase space for our corporate aircraft, correct deteriorating pavement that ponds water when it rains, create dedicated parking for our fueling trucks and add more ramp space for airport operations and commercial operators.

We are excited about these current and upcoming Airport projects.  Please feel free to contact me with any further questions you may have.

Sincerely,  

Matthew L Bailey

Airport Manager/Charlevoix Municipal Airport (CVX)

CALLING ALL FAIRIES, ELFKINS AND GNOMES

Join in the July 4th Parade on Beaver Island.! Come in costume: we also welcome butterflies, fairy flowers, princes and princesses, as well as a few bunnies, frogs and snails! Young ones must be accompanied by adults. You will be lead through the parade route for as long as you'd like to walk (or bikeride) by a special leader . A banner will be hoisted by two more mature walkers . We encourage local school kids as well as visiting children, to
join in the fun! Support the Fairy Garden and have a good time doing it on July 4th. More information or questions call Leonor 448-2894.

Mute Swan Eggs Hatch on Barney's Lake

Iron Ore Creek and Bay

Working on the Creek Area

Iron Ore Creek

The Iron Ore Creek area looks a lot different than it did in years past. There is one large opening under the road to allow the creek to run out to the lake. It also has some serious issues with visitors moving the rocks that prevent erosion of the sand into the creek. It also is obvious that there are people who do not want to follow the rules on the sign at the creek.

The biggest issue revolves around the movement of the rocks that provide a pathway for draining water. The second issue is the fact that some ORV operators do not want to follow the Charlevoix County ORV Ordinance. Perhaps they don't know about the ordinance, but they should be able to read the sign, "No vehicles on beach."

In an effort to prevent vehicles on the beach, there has been a fence erected near the culvert and park area. This will hopefully be a visual warning to ORVs to stay off the beach. There is, however, another way for the ORVs to access the beach at Iron Ore Bay, from the east end of the bay.

There are three different pathways that can provide access on the east end of the bay. They are close together, but all three allow access to the beach.

Even though there is a fine up to $500 for driving an ORV anywhere except on designated trails, some operators of the ORVs aren't respecting the ordinance.

AMVETs Post #46 Sets More Bricks at Memorial

Beginning at 9 am on Saturday, May 12, 2012, the AMVETs began the work on setting 60 more bricks at the Beaver Island Veteran's Memorial. There were some very emotional points in this process. A father setting a brick for his fallen hero son and a friend setting a brick for a fallen hero friend. This job was not easy to watch as the tears filled the eyes and the workers continued to work. This Veteran's Memorial will be used for the Memorial Day Service, so the bricks need to be in place before Memorial Day.

Here is a video of the veterans setting the bricks.

View from behind the memorial

Three of the special bricks placed next to one another....

Men's Summer Golf League Underway

The first golf match of the men's summer golf league got underway last night May 16, 2012. The majority of the teams scores were expected to be around forty, and ten teams' scores were. Only two teams scored under that.

S=Score, P=Points, T,P.=Total Points, S.AVE.= Stroke Average

Peaine Township Board Meeting

Link to Video HERE

The Peaine Township Board took care of several appointments to the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Planning Commision, as well as approved the Codification of the Zoning Ordinance. Jack Gallagher reported that Verizon wants to replace the cell phone tower on Kings Highway, install another tower, and provide 4G service to the Island. CCE 911 Dispatch wishes to place equipment on the East Side Tower. The Board approved posting for bids on the township hall furnace as well. There was a somewhat lengthy discussion about when items needed to be submitted for inclusion in the written agenda. The Board agree that submission should be submitted one week in advance of the meeting to allow for processing and inclusion as well as posting of the meeting agenda online and in several places around town.

Invasive Species Summit, June 14, 2012

At Beaver Island Community Center from 2 pm to 5 pm

Sponsored by the Beaver Island Association

The purpose of this meeting is to inform you of the dangers of invasive species, how to control them and their negative impact on outdoor activities, real estate values, the island economy and our environment. Invasive plants are spreading on almost all private and public lands on our island archipelago. The Beaver Island Association has gathered great speakers to help island property owners understand Invasives and the threats they present, watch for weekly bio postings.

? Invasive plants can decrease your ability to enjoy hunting, fishing, mushroom collecting, bird watching, and other recreational pursuits.

? Invasive plants, if left unchecked, will limit many uses of our islands now and for future generations.

? Invasive plants can harm the natural heritage of our wetlands, fields, forests, lakes, and rivers.

? The longer we wait, the more expensive it will be to control invasive plants.

You can be a part of the solution by learning about Beaver Island's invasive plants and taking action to prevent their spread.

To Register (this will help us have a more accurate idea of expected attendance) , please email your Name, Address , Affiliation or Organization (if applicable) and Phone number to: Beaverislandassocaition@gmail.com ( ONLY ONE NAME OR MARRIED COUPLE PER REGISTRATION PLEASE)

Violin Happenings

Irish Fiddle Violin Workshop

July 5th and 6th

In front of the little green house on Kings Highway…

This workshop is being sponsored by the Glen McDonough Memorial Fund. Trae McMaken will be instructing students for two sessions per day – morning and afternoon.

Details to follow.

Glen McDonough Mem. Concert

July 7th 7pm

In front of the little green house on Kings Highway…

Music on the Porch

Monday, July 16th

Music on the Porch begins at 7:30 p.m. on the Print Shop Porch

(Rain location is the Holy Cross Hall)

Private Lessons

Ms. Sheri will be offering private lessons this summer during summer school weeks. Details in the near future…

Daddy Frank's New Look

Daddy Franks has been sold and the new owners are putting a lot of work toward getting it ready to open. The most obvious change is the color of the building. It used to be blue. Now it's a bright read. The new owners have decided to build an addition and relocated the kitchen in the addition. The existing building will be used to seat customers. The new owners, Kathie and Mark Ehinger, and the family were up working on the addition this week. Their two sons, Anthony and Derek, were helping with the excavation for the new addition. Next week their daughter Stephanie and her husband Shawn Allen will be up to help. Their dog, an English Mastiff, and named Dozzer is also part of the family.

The new Daddy Franks' menu is available to view HERE.

Meet the Ehingers

Tax Payer Contributions by Township

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

Peaine Township Millage Rates Set

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

Millage rates in the two townships for jointly funded operations

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

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

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

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

Equity in Tax Bills

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

How Serious is the Inequity

Consultant Report Available

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

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

Air Transport for Island Medical Emergencies (ATIME for Us)

by Joe Moore

Read Article HERE

32 Miles of Water

(Copyright 2004, Phillip Michael Moore)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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