B. I. News on the 'Net, November 5-11, 2012
Spaghetti Dinner Sponsored By the Lighthouse School
Monday November 12th not Tuesday November 13th
Spaghetti Dinner sponsored by the Lighthouse School
Peaine Township Hall
Monday, November 12th
5:00 PM Seniors
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Free Will donation
Thank You Veterans!
Today is Veteran's Day! Thank you so much for your service! Our country, our state, and our community are very thankful! The Beaver Island Veteran's Day Ceremony will be held on Monday at 11 am.
Carol LaFreniere Obituary
Carol Ann LaFreniere, 68, of Beaver Island, died Sunday, November 4, 2012, at her home. A memorial service was held at 11:00am, Thursday, November 8, 2012, at the Beaver Island Christian Church. The Reverend Howard Davis officiated. Visitation was on Wednesday from 4 - 6:30 pn, when friends were invited to join the family at BINGO, in Carol's memory.
Bingo in Honor of Carol LaFreniere
Carol was born July 27, 1944, in Flint, the daughter of Clarence and Marie (McLean) Schlacter. She married her former husband, Gerald LaFreniere on October 16, 1965, and he died in August of 2008.
Carol was a member of the Beaver Island Christian Church, and was a charter member of the Beaver Island Fire Auxiliary.
She is survived by her children, Michelle LaFreniere, Gerald (Tammy) LaFreniere, Deborah (John) Robert; grandchildren, Charlie and Emily Gray, Katie and Jessica LaFreniere, Hannah, John Brady, and Jared Robert, Britta Cieslak; and many children and grandchildren of the heart.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Beaver Island Fire Auxiliary Building Fund.
Nice Day for Ducks
The chance of rain today was listed at 80% and it might as well have been 100% because it is pouring outside at 9:45 am on Saturday. The wildlife must know something that humans don't because there have been no turkeys, no bluejays, and no squirrels coming to eat the corn that is put out everyday. There are lots of inside chores to get done, so let's get at them and get them done. Have a great day! "It's not rain! It's liquid sunshine!"
Happy Birthday to the Marine Corps! This is the 237th year! Happy Birthday!
The Disaster on the East Coast Continues
For those who have lost everything, whether in New York state or on the Jersey shore, the disaster has not ended. This is a video of some specific instances of volunteers helping out wherever and whenever they can. It was hard to watch this video without tears coming into the eyes.
Where Is the Tax Relief for St. James Township Taxpayers
Now that the election is over, it is time to bring this issue back up to the taxpayers on Beaver Island whether they pay taxes in St. James or in Peaine Townships. The following editorial was written by the editor of Beaver Island News on the 'Net, and he is responsible for all statements made. This position is his position only, not the position of News on the 'Net, nor of any family members. In short, the editorial is a response to two specific points: "Why does St. James individual taxpayers pay more for the joint services than does each individual Peaine taxpayer?" and "Are these tax amounts fair?" You can read the whole editorial by clicking on the small picture below.
Stoney News
TONIGHT ... FRESH WHITEFISH ...YUMMY!
AND... SUNDAY ... TRIVIA w/ Linda & Carol @ 3pm...Great FUN!
PLUS...It's Stoney's last PIZZA Sunday...
Jim & Pam's BEST PIZZA EVER! Call ahead and have it ready to eat in or take out!
THANK YOU PAM & JIM for a GREAT PIZZA Season ...see you next season!
MONDAY ... VETERAN'S DAY ...a Huge THANK YOU to all of you, who served all of us so well!
Please come in and enjoy a Burger & Fries Special on Stoney...11-2 pm.
Next Friday... DOE CAMP ...
Please join us for...
Good Times with Great Friends at Stoney & the PUB!
Christmas Bazaar This Weekend
Wildlife Club News
Free Cob Corn at Power's Hardware
Available at the hardware during regular business hours. Bring a five gallon pail or other means to carry and take as much as needed. Must get rid of soon before it spoils. Freshly cut on Beaver Island last week.
There is still about 1/2 a gaylord box of Cobbed Corn at the Lumber Yard.. Please bring own pails to collect it and use it.
Dinner and Raffle
The Beaver Island Wildlife Club will host its annual dinner at the Shamrock on November 17, 2012, from 5-9 p.m. The drawing for the raffle prizes will be held between 7 and 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 each or 11 for $100. Also there will be 50/50 raffles through out the evening. It's a great evening of fun and food. Please join us for the only fund raiser the club holds each year.
Bick Buck Contest
Sign up now for the Big Buck Contest at Powers Hardware. It is a 50/50 payout. $10 gets you in and entry must be made PRIOR to Nov. 15. The contest is for Firearm season only. Entered bucks will be scored by Deny Keehn on Beaver Island only. No exceptions, so if you get your deer the night before you leave... contact Deny immediately.
2012 November 7 St James Township Meeting Video
Rich Gillespie Wins Re-election
In about 400 vote victory, Rich Gillespie won the county comissioner race against Nancy Ferguson. Rich won in all the townships that he represents. Congratulations, Richie!
Election Results
What's happened with the Peaine Township vote counts? At 8:30 pm tonight, November 6, 2012, there was a discrepency of one vote between the votes counted by the ballot machine and the Application to Vote forms. The forms said 281 voters and the ballots stated 280 on the machine. The ballots were removed from the machine and counted. At 8:55, there was still a discrepancy of this one vote. A search for possible problem points was begun. All the absentee ballot envelopes were checked for a missing ballot. The sign-in sheets were rechecked. Piles of votes were also checked and rechecked. Stubs from the ballot tops were checked. At 9:25, a double check and triple check of counted ballots turned up one pile with 26 ballots instead of the 25, and so all 281 ballots were accounted for. At 9:30, the group began learning how to run an unofficial total. After the reports, three copies, were printed of the unofficial results, the ballots would need to be re-inserted into the machine to recount for an official count. This was begun at 9:50. BINN left the building at 10:15 pm with unofficial results.
The results were found on the Charlevoix County website at 11:20 pm.
Interesting fact for Peaine Township: 85% of the registered voters in Peaine Township voted in this election.
Interesting fact for St. James Township: 79 % of the registered voters in St James Township voted in this election.
The Undefeated Lady Islanders Volleyball Team
(Photo by Frank Solle)
Coach and Athletic Director Kerry Smith said, " I would like to recognize that the Lady Islanders went undefeated in regular season play 10-0 and are the Northern Light League Champions this year for the first time since 2008."
BINN agrees! Congratulations to the Lady Islanders for a wonderfully successful season!
Operation American Soldier
The Beaver Island High School National Honor Society Chapter is collecting items to send to soldiers for the holidays. If you would like to donate items, please give them to a NHS member (Marissa C, Olivia C and Erin B, or adviser Connie Boyle). Elementary students are having a friendly classroom competition to collect items, so they will be happy to turn them in for you. NHS will be hosting a Fun Night for students in grades 7-12 on November 16 and the students may bring items as part of their admission.
Wish List items include:
Coffee, Tea & Powder Drink Mix
Protein Bars
Hard Candy & Chocolate Candy
Holiday Decoration Items
Playing Cards & Small Games
Canned Fruit With Flip Tops
Snack Pack Pudding
Tuna In Envelopes
Beef Jerky
The items that cannot be shipped are any liquids that contain alcohol (all liquid items must be alcohol free – shampoos, hand sanitizers, etc), no tobacco and no pork products.
If you would like to make a donation for items to be purchased, checks can be written to “Operation American Soldier”.
All items will be sent to Operation American Soldier who will mail them to soldiers. If you know of a soldier who would like to receive a stocking filled with items, please give the name and address to Connie Boyle.
Please bring items to Beaver Island Community School by Friday, November 16th
Thank you for your help and continued support!
From Stoney Acres
OBAMA BURGER -9
1/3 # Patty, Swiss, Mayo, Grilled Mushrooms & Onion, on Rye!
ROMNEY WRAP -9
Clam Strips, Slaw, Lettuce, Tomato & Tartar!
PLUS ...It's $2 Tuesday in the PUB...ALL Domestic Beers $2 ALL DAY...ALL NIGHT
AND Happy Hour 2-6
ALSO ...don't forget TRIVIA night, Nov11th! We have 5 Teams signed up already & plenty room for more...
Join in the FUN at Stoney!
Squirrel War--Success??
About three weeks ago, Lil Gregg began having issues with squirrels getting into her house. With the hardware cloth patches to holes chewed into the siding at the roofline, and efforts to keep the squirrels out by her daughter Ruth, the war against the squirrels began. It seemed as if the squirrels were winning until Hogarth got a phone call and made their first visit.
All of the details of the squirrel war now had a professional pest eliminator on board. Traps and openings filled with one way doors and persistence became the order of the day. Thirty squirrels were caught and relocated.
Exterior traps with squirrels in them.......one way doorway from the attic to the outside
Trap name and flashing blocking a squirrel chewed hole.
At some point the squirrel, who was described as the "one that knew his way in the house" was caught on the inside of the house. Attempts had been made to chase this squirrel out open doors, but there was no success until the traps were placed inside the house.
The squirrel caught in the inside trap.
The lead squirrel caught after 30 others....The winner of the squirrel war--Hogarths
Short video clip describing the war
So why does the title of this story have question marks after the word "Success"? Some of the doubters willl probably say, "Let's wait to see if any other squirrels find a way into the house."
Standby for the next installment: Lil Gregg called and said she had another squirrel in the house at about 2:30 pm on Tuesday, November 6, 2012.
This makes a total of three known house invasions by squirrels. Hopefully, the squirrel population causing these invasions can be relocated, but relocated somewhere else. Is there a squirrel heaven?
Election Day on Beaver Island
Polls are open from 7 am until 8 pm. In St. James and in Peaine, the voting location are the respective township halls. Please get out and vote. BINN does not endorse any candidate and does not have any position on any issues, so you won't find any directives on this website. BINN will, however, report on any issues and all the outcomes as soon as it becomes public information.
Peaine Township Hall location for voting
St. James Hall location for voting
Ballot Proposals in Michigan for November Election
On the ballot
| VR | Proposal 1 | Admin of Gov't | Would expand powers for emergency managers (EMs) and ability of Governor to appoint EMs. |
| CICA | Proposal 2 | Labor | Would make collective bargaining a right for public and private workers. |
| CICA | Proposal 3 | Energy | Would mandate that 25% of the state's electricity come from renewable sources by 2025. |
| CICA | Proposal 4 | Labor | Would put give home health care providers limited collective bargaining rights. |
| CICA | Proposal 5 | Taxes | Would require increase in state taxes to be approved by 2/3 majority in Legislature or statewide vote. |
| CICA | Proposal 6 | Transportation | Would require voters to approve any new bridge or tunnel from the state to Canada. |
From: http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Michigan_2012_ballot_measures
On the Charlevoix County website, there are Proof Ballots that you can view at this address:
HERE
Click 2012 November proof Ballots, then scroll down to pages 19+20 for St. James and 21+22 for Peaine
Links
Link to Proof BallotsOn the Charlevoix County website, there are Proof Ballots that you can view at this address:HEREClick 2012 November proof Ballots, then scroll down to pages 19+20 for St. James and 21+22 for Peaine
Peaine Special Millage Setting Meeting 9/26/12 |
Veteran's Day Ceremony
BINN: AMVETS POST 46 will conduct a Veterans Day Ceremony on MONDAY, November 12, 11 AM at the Veterans Memorial Park on the harbor. All community members are invited.
Jim Stambaugh's Letter of Support for Larry Kubic
BICS and BIEMS Team Up
As part of a two-day professional development program, the BICS faculty and staff flew off-Island on Thursday, November 1, 2012. Upon return, and at 8 a.m, on November 2, 2012, the adminstration, faculty, and staff met in the high school commons area for the American Heart Association Heartsaver CPR and AED program for adults, children, and infants.
A watch-and-then-do CPR and AED program The program was being taught by three AHA instructors, all on the team of Beaver Island EMS-Gerald LaFreniere, Jim Stambaugh, Joe Moore; and BIEMS Executive Director Danielle Dedloff. The program is a hands-on practical skills program that emphasizes the importances of early CPR compressions that are "push hard and fast." This joint effort between BIEMS and BICS is just one example of the cooperative partnerships formed here on Beaver Island.
A picture of the CPR students doing hands-on activities
Avian Botulism a Serious Issue Beach walkers.... if you decide to clean up the beaches of the bird carcasses, the transfer station will take them free of charge in doubled household garbage bags.
Team Up For Change Given Opportunity to RespondSome subcribers have emailed the editor and have suggested that BINN has taken sides and is providing support to only one side. The editor's response is straight forward, "Send me something without negativity, and I will post it." The attacks against one person will not be posted. BINN will not get into a negative campaign position. The "Team Up for Change" group's letters are on this website. Brad Grassmick's video interview is on this website. I have offered to post information or video interviews for this group. BINN has not received a request from any member of their team. An email invitation has been sent to Krys Lyle to provide these options as well. So, just for information purposes, BINN has not taken any side in this election, and all have had equal opportunity to make their case. Here is a link to the Team Up for Change website response about the airport grant: http://www.teamupforchange.org/update-on-recent-announcement-of-grant-for-the-beaver-island-township-airport/
Pete Lodico's Statement About the Airport IssueI was at the meeting. There were a number of people there. What was said that I heard loud and clear from the director Betsey Steudle, P.E. Airports Division, Bureau of Aeronautiics was, 'The judgement against Beaver Island 'was not your fault.' We feel that Beaver Island should be awarded this grant from state funds transfered from the fuel tax on air transportation."
Mike Scripps Statement About His Personal Comments"I will stand by the word 'exonerated'. Dictionary says-to relieve from obligation or hardship, to remove from blame. After talking to four people at that meeting, my best recollection of what was said at that moment was,"It wasn't you'r fault". I'd like to add it was the Island that was exonerated,as well as the committee. The words, plus the actions, in my opinion, make that word appropriate. Now, I'd like to add this. 3 of us gave an entire day to this meeting. I recalled the event as best I could."
Donate to the Live Streaming Project
The Live Streaming Project includes BICS Sports Events, Peaine Township Meetings, Joint Township Meetings, and much more. Your donation may allow these events to be live streamed on the Internet at http://beaverisland.tv
A Very Nice Story on Paul Welke and Island Airwayshttp://www.9and10news.com/ story/19977598/special-report
BINN Down Due to Server CrashesThe shared storage of the BINN server, somewhere out there in the "Cloud," had some servers crash somewhere near Chicago. This put the entire website down for about twenty hours. The website came back up on October 31, 2012, in the late evening allowing the afternoon posted story to appear. We hope that this issue, probably related to the Hurricane Karen weather, is resolved and that we can continue to put up daily posts to this website. It is our goal to post as often as we have news available, but definitely much more frequently than weekly. Glad to be back up and in operation!
Getting Close to Turkey DayWhile today is Halloween, the wild turkeys are still wandering around near the Kings Highway and Carlisle Road corner. This one ugly turkey appeared to have warts on his head. Further checking provided completely different information.
Turkeys gathering to feed
The ugliest turkey...somewhat like the ugliest duckling. Apparently, beauty is in the eye of a beholder turkey. Information provided by Nancy Siefeldt suggests that in the spring time, this turkey will probably be considered the "sexiest" tom turkey in the bunch. The wart-like growths are normal for older toms. Thank you to Nancy Siefeldt for the information.
Wind Lowers Water Level of Paradise BayWith the water level being down quite a bit this fall, the harbor did not need any help from the wind. The strong winds of hurricane Sandy along with a cold front has the water levels even lower today, October 30, 2012.
Panorama of the harbor from the public beach
Panorama of the marina toward town
Panorama of the point toward Martin's dock Video of low water all three locations
Cushman's boat high and dry as well as the raft
Old pilings at the marina are completely out of the water.
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Announcements |
Open Letter From Mike Scripps
Thanks to all that voted for me for trustee on the Peaine Township Board. Unfortunately, due to additional health problems, which require immediate attention, Shelly and I have made the decision for me to withdraw from the race. I am endorsing Pete LoDico and Paul Welke for trustees for the Peaine Township Board.
By now you probably heard of another group running as a team. I want to state that there are always two sides to every story. Please take a few minutes to call any of the members of either township board and ask their opinions. There names and numbers follow:
| St. James | phone number | Peaine | phone number |
| Rick Speck | 2393 |
Larry Kubic | 2907 |
| Jean Wierenga | 2808 |
Colleen Martin | 2397 |
| JimWojan | 2455 |
Paul Welke | 2374 |
| Tim McDonough | 2344 |
Pete LoDico | 2004 |
| Ray Cole | 2452 |
For the other positions, I endorse Bill Kohls for Supervisor, Larry Kubic for Treasurer, and Colleen Martin for Clerk. Please vote as you see fit, with an informed opinion from ALL SIDES.
My cell phone number is 231-855-1759 and I would ask that you please call me if you have any questions. I'd be honored to speak to you! Thank you for your time!
Sincerely, Mike Scripps
Airport Commission Announces Funding for New Terminal Building
The chair of the Beaver Island Airport Commission announced today, October 29, 2012, that Mead and Hunt had told him that the BIAC was to received a grant to fund the building of the new terminal building at the Township Airport. Video of the announcement and comments can be viewed HERE
Mike Scripps announces grant for terminal building.
Mike shows House Bill 4025 that funded the grant program.
House Bill 4025 became PA 0226 and can be viewed HERE
Mike thanks Joe Reid and Don Vyse, former airport committee chairmen, for their efforts at updating the airport.
Three Airport Chairmen pose for a photo outside the current terminal building.
Jack Gallagher Letter
Krys Lyle Letter
Tina Morgan Letter
Brad Grassmick Letter
Holiday Bazaar
Holiday Bazaar is Sunday, November 11, 11:00 - 2:30, at the Gregg Fellowship Center. If you want to reserve a table, you can pick up information from Jean Kinsley at her Prudential office or call Judi Meister, 2963. Deadline for reservations is November 5.
From Pete Plastrik-NRESC Vision/Goals/Objectives Plan
The NRESC decided today to use its November 19th regularly scheduled meeting (7 pm) and a new December 15th meeting (Saturday, 10 am) to (hopefully) complete the process of drafting Vision/Goals/Objectives to share with the community and gather ideas about Strategies to achieve the Objectives.
At the November 19th meeting, we will work on a new draft of the Vision/Goals/Objectives based on the NRESC brainstorming discussion this morning, and a Glossary of Terms used in the draft, as well as ideas about how to conduct the community feedback process. A new draft and proposed community feedback process will be sent around before the meeting. A list of terms that should be in the Glossary will also be sent around so NRESC members can offer their definitions. Following that meeting, NRESC members who are representatives of organizations will have time to check with their organizations to get any further feedback on the draft before it is shared with the community.
At the December 15th meeting, we will (hopefully) sign off on a draft to share with the community and make final decisions about the community-feedback process.
Beaver Island Basketball Schedule 2012-2013
NOV 30 BEAVER ISLAND @ HANNAHVILLE
DEC 1 BEAVER ISLAND @ HANNAHVILLE
DEC 7 BEAVER ISLAND @ GRAND MARAIS
DEC 8 BEAVER ISLAND @ GRAND MARAIS
JAN 4 OJIBWE & BARNSTORMERS @ BEAVER ISLAND
JAN 5 OJIBWE & BARNSTORMERS @ BEAVER ISLAND
JAN 11 BEAVER ISLAND @ PARADISE (BOYS)
BEAVER ISLAND @ MUNISING BAPTIST IN PARADISE (GIRLS)
JAN 12 BEAVER ISLAND @ PARADISE (BOYS)
JAN 18 HANNAHVILLE @ BEAVER ISLAND
JAN 19 HANNAHVILLE @ BEAVER ISLAND
JAN 25 BEAVER ISLAND @ MAPLEWOOD
JAN 26 BEAVER ISLAND @ MAPLEWOOD
FEB 1 BEAVER ISLAND @ MACKINAC ISLAND
FEB 2 BEAVER ISLAND @ MACKINAC ISLAND
FEB 8 GRAND MARAIS @ BEAVER ISLAND
FEB 9 GRAND MARAIS @ BEAVER ISLAND
FEB 22/23 NORTHERN LIGHTS LEAGUE TOURNAMENT IN RUDYARD
Proposed Beaver Island Garage
For Charlevoix County Services on Beaver Island
Site plans and artist renditions may be viewed by clicking on the schematic above.
Thank you to County Commissioner Rich Gillespie for the above information!
Dahlwhinnie's Dining Out Menu
The CC Commission on Aging's representatives have approved the menu submitted by Dahlwhinnie's to offer seniors an additional option when deciding to dine out. The addition of a a breakfast menu to a lunch menu provides another option for Dining Out seniors. The menu was available as of Monday, October 8, 2012, and is presented below exactly as presented to BINN with only one thing added. The thing added was the word 'and' in front of the word 'milk.' The following menu items are available from 7-10 a.m.:
#1 1 egg, hashbrowns, orange juice, fruit cup, toast with butter, and milk
#2 1 egg, hashbrowns, orange juice, fruit cup, oatmeal, and milk
#4 Egg sandwich with cheese, orange juice, fruit cup, hashbrowns
#5 1 egg vegetable cheese omelet, hash browns, orange juice
The Dining Out Lunch Menus available from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. is:
#1 Fresh spinach salad with grilled chicken, red onion, honey mustard dressing, fruit, bread with butter, and milk
#2 Chili--(beef, chicken, or turkey) with tomatoes, beans, peppers, and onions, fruit cup, crackers, and milk
#3 Meat loaf, potatoes, vegetable, fruit, roll with butter, milk
#4 Open face pulled pork sandwich, vegetable, sweet potato, fruit, and milk
#5 Hot turkey or beef sandwich and potatoes with gravy, vegetable, fruit, and milk
#6 Tuna melt on wheat with cheddar, fruit, mixed vegetable
Letter from Colleen Martin
Letter from Larry Kubic
Nancy Ferguson Candidacy Video
Prediction of Record Low Water Levels
You can participate and listen to the discussion.
Interesting discussion to take place on October 31, 2012
Thanks to Jim Heit, for this link:
The weekly water levels forecast at the Detroit District Hydraulics and Hydrology homepage has been updated. To see this new forecast please visit
http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/ greatlakes/hh/ greatlakeswaterlevels/ waterlevelforecasts/ weeklygreatlakeswaterlevels/ index.cfm
BICS Honor Society's Operation American Soldier
COA Events November 2012
Rick Speck Letter to Voters
Joint Township Meeting Live Streamed
Verizon Cellphone Service and Emergency Services Communication System Discussed
The joint township meeting was held this evening, October 22, 2012, at the Peaine Township Hall starting at 7 p.m. The meeting was live streamed on the Internet at http://beaverisland.tv. If you did not get a chance to watch it, the discussion was an excellent one with lots of questions from board members and lots of questions from the audience. The recorded, on demand video of this meeting will be available sometime Tuesday on this website.
The emergency services needs were placed on top of the priority list. Here is the the agreement reached by both townships and the two representativesfrom Verizon. Verizon agreed to put a new emergency services antenna on the top of their tower, the one farthest north of the three towers at this site.Verizon agreed to put new coaxial cable from the new antenna into the old Peaine Township Hall, and provide the connectability at the location of the backup emergency services repeater. This would be completed prior to any demolition of the current guyed emergency services tower. These representatives guaranteed that the back-up emergency services repeater would not be out of working order for more than one hour, probably just minutes.
For those that were concerned about improved cellphone service, Verizon representatives stated that the level of service would be increased to 4G and that the area of service would be increased due to the more powerful antennas to be placed on top of their planned new tower. There was no guarantee that the cellphone service would be Island-wide. The areas that would probably have questionable service would be Port St. James, farther south on the East Side, the South end, and Southwestern areas as well as below the bluff on the West Side. The plan to provide Island-wide 4G service would require equipment placed on the Donegal Bay tower, as well as the Coast Guard tower at the south end, and perhaps also the Green's Lake tower. The representatives suggested that they had not done complete studies to provide Island-wide cellphone service. The first steps in their plan was to upgrade the service to 4G and to slightly expand the service area on the island. When asked about using a different tower location, one representative stated that the issue was not one of distance from the tower to the cellphone user, but instead the weak signal from the cellphone to the tower location. Using Donegal Bay tower would not maintain the current service area. Using the East Side tower would not maintain the current service area. Their first priority is to upgrade the current service area with plans to expand the service area in 2014. The main purpose of the plan from Verizon is to upgrade current customers to a 4G service.
Bob Bradley from CCE Dispatch made a few other suggestions about the emergency services antenna move. He also reported on the bringing back up the towers and communications capability in the fairly newly designed emergency services radio system. A technician came to the island with Mr. Bradley, and this tech tweaked the sensitivity of the Coast Guard tower receiver and the Donegal Bay tower receiver and brought their connection to the main emergency services tower at the East Side Fire Station back online. The originally designed coverage area is now back and is now working.. More than 90% of Beaver Island will have handheld portable radio coverage, and vehicle mobile radio coverage will be increased to almost 100%. The mobile data terminal communications is greatly improved with a data transmitter installed here on Beaver Island. Previously, the signal had to come from Petoskey or Boyne Mountain. EMS providers applauded the effort to get this system working and get the communication towers back in operation.
There were two suggestions for improving individual home cellphone service. One is a piece of equipment purchased from the cellphone provider to use an Internet connection to access the Verizon network making the home the center of a cellphone hotspot, so that users in the house could still use the Verizon network inside the house independent from the tower location. Another idea was a third party cellphone extender that would work only if there was a cellphone signal available on the roof of a person's home. The homeowner's antenna would access the cellphone tower from a wire run into the house from the outside antenna. This would provide cellphone service in the house as well. This would only work if there was a cellphone signal available outside the home, usually on the roof.
Both the St. James Township Board and the Peaine Township Board voted to approve the plan as provided in the documentation with the suggestions of Bob Bradley included. The meeting adjourned at approximately 9:30 pm. The livestreaming video server caught up to the end of the live meeting at 9:45 pm. Approximately eighty unique IP addresses watched this meeting.
Agenda and Meeting Video HERE
Michigan Study Suggests Merit Curriculum-No Impact
Michigan Merit Curriculum gives small boost to best students, with little or negative impact on lower achievers
October 22, 2012
ANN ARBOR—The class of 2011, the first group of students exposed to the Michigan Merit Curriculum for their entire high school careers, saw mixed results.
The introduction of the merit curriculum reduced graduation rates slightly for students who entered high school with weak academic skills. For those who entered with strong skills, the curriculum did not have an impact on their high school completion rates, according to an analysis released today by the Michigan Consortium for Educational Research.
The consortium is a partnership between the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and the state of Michigan. The results of the research were presented at a conference at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing today.
Performance on standardized tests rose slightly for students who entered high school with strong skills. The impact on test scores was small or negative for those who entered high school with weak skills. The best-prepared students saw better performance in science, reading and math. All students experienced declines in writing scores.
Results show that the merit curriculum reduced the five-year graduation rate among lower-achieving students by approximately 4.5 percentage points (from 49 percent to 44.5 percent). The merit curriculum also appears to have prompted some students to extend their stay in high school beyond the traditional four years, perhaps in an effort to meet the more rigorous curricular requirements.
In 2006, Michigan adopted the merit curriculum, a set of high school graduation requirements that emphasize math and science. The goal was to increase the rigor of high school courses and better prepare students for college. The first students covered by the curriculum started ninth grade in fall 2007 and would have been scheduled for an on-time graduation in spring 2011.
"These findings are for the first set of students subject to the new requirements. The results may change as schools and teachers gain experience with the curriculum," said Susan Dynarski, a professor at U-M's Ford School of Public Policy, School of Education and Department of Economics. "As more students complete their high school years, we will find out whether the curriculum boosts college attendance and success, a key goal of the reform."
Additional findings indicate large gaps across income groups and Michigan's districts in high school graduation and college attendance. Four-year high school graduation rates range from less than 50 percent to over 90 percent across Michigan's largest school districts. Fifty-seven percent of low-income freshmen graduate high school within four years, compared to 85 percent of students with higher incomes. And 31 percent of low-income students attend college within five years of entering high school, compared to 61 percent of students with higher incomes.
The merit curriculum also appears related to some personnel changes. Additional results released at the conference showed that the teaching staff at Michigan's high schools has shifted toward merit curriculum subjects, with those teaching these topics rising from 58 percent in 2004 to 71 percent in 2011.
"Between 2004 and 2011, the overall number of high school teachers in Michigan fell. However, with the introduction of the MMC it appears that schools and districts focused their limited resources on teachers who taught core academic subjects," said Kenneth Frank, a professor at MSU's College of Education.
The merit curriculum requires that students take Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra 2, as well as Biology 1 and either Chemistry or Physics. Students must take four years of English Language Arts and complete two years of a foreign language.
"The findings of this first study are important and must be seen as a diagnostic tool for our teachers, administrators, and education leaders," said State Superintendent Michael P. Flanagan. "The Michigan Merit Curriculum is the right direction and must be maintained. We need to delve deeper now and see how we can help schools deliver it successfully to every student in Michigan."
The study uses data from 700,000 students enrolled in Michigan's public high schools to examine the effects of the merit curriculum. The research was funded by a grant by the Institute of Education Sciences in the U.S. Department of Education.
Joining Dynarski and Frank on the study are Brian Jacob, professor at U-M's Ford School of Public Policy, and Barbara Schneider, professor at MSU's College of Education and Department of Sociology.
The reports are available at the MCER website: http://www.michiganconsortium. org .
NRESC Draft Goals and Objectives for Natural Resources Plan
Brian Mastenbrook will be attending our meeting on Saturday and will discuss the draft plan the DNR has released, which includes Beaver archipelago, and the input process. See info below:
The Northern Lower Peninsula (NLP) Regional State Forest Management Plan has been released for public input. The DNR will accept comments on this draft plan through Jan. 2, 2013.
Send your comments and ideas via email to forestplancomments@ michigan.gov .
DNR Press Release: http://us.mg205.mail. yahoo.com/dc/launch?.partner= sbc&.gx=1&.rand=cqt19tslhvjfo
More related to the our islands are under special resource area: http://www.midnr.com/ Publications/pdfs/ ForestsLandWater/RSFMP/NLP/ NLPSection5.pdf
Peter Plastrik
School Board Moves Forward in Plan to Replace Superintendent/K-12 Principal
Letter of Support for Bill Kohls
NRESC Press Release of October 18, 2012
Shamrock " Senior" Menu Available to ALL!
After a discussion today, September 26, 2012, with Dana Hodgson, it is possible to replace mashed potatoes with French fries, so this makes the possibilities on the Shamrock menu a total of thirty possible combinations for food and three possibilities for drinks.
Lots of options and choices...
Dana and Eric Hodgson announced this morning, October 16, 2012, that the senior menu posted above will be available to all ages. If paid in cash, the cost of these menu items, all thirty possible combinations, will be $6.60 plus tax. This means that the menu, listed as the senior menu, is available for anyone for $7. This is a wonderful possibility for all! Thank you, Dana and Eric!
The BINN editor arrived at the Shamrock for lunch today, and suddenly realized that the senior vouchers were not in his pocket, but at home. With this new option, the same lunch was received without any issues and the $7 price was paid instead. This will allow several of the old gang who used to meet at the Community Center an opportunity to congregate again for lunch. Thank you again, Dana and Eric!
Paul Welke Runs for Re-Election as Independent
How to Write In on the Ballot
(The following is not an endorsement. This website is for providing information for any and all.)
You can do a write-in and vote a straight ticket.
New Information on NRESC Meeting Schedule
1. The next NRESC meeting for the natural resource management planning process will be Saturday, October 27, from 10 am – 1 pm. Main purpose is to complete the drafting of Vision-Goals-Objectives that will be shared with community/stakeholders for feedback and to determine next steps in our community outreach. A phone conference call in will be used.
2. The NRESC has adopted a regular meeting schedule for the next year, as required. All meetings will be on 3rd Monday of every other month (just like the past year) at Peaine Township Hall at 7 pm. Please note the dates:
November 19, 2012
January 21, 2013
March 18, 2013
May 20, 2013
July 15, 2013
September 16, 2013
Chamber Recommends ORV Trails on State Land to NRESC
Letter from Chamber to NRESC
Chamber ORV Resolution
MI ORV Locations
Peaine Township Meeting, October 10, 2012
Tonight's Peaine Township meeting began at 7:05 p.m. with all board members present. The paperwork included a Profit and Loss for the fiscal year April 2012-March 2013, minutes of the last Regular Board meeting and the Special Board meeting, General Checking from the Peaine General Fund and Peaine Township Airport Checking from the Airport Fund. an agenda, and the BIEMS Budget. Also included was the 2012 Tax Rate Request sent to the county for Peaine Township, which included a Taxable Value of all properties in Peaine Township of $71,634,050 and the allocated and voted millages for the township. You can view the agenda of the meeting by going to the Peaine Township Board Meeting Minutes below.
Video of the meeting may be viewed HERE
Pete LoDico Running for Re-Election
Vote to re-elect Pete LoDico for Peaine Township trustee.
For the past four years I have had a good working relationship with the Charlevoix County Road Commission. We have met with the CCR Commission 3 times and have discussed the following:
1) paving of Kings Highway; 2) new road commission garage; 3) road grader for the island; 4) hard surface test plot for the East Side Drive.
The Kings Highway is on the schedule to be done, but more than likely this will not happen in 2013. We were assured that 2014 would be the year most likely that this will occur. The new county garage would be shared by the CC Road Commission, CC Sheriffs Department, and the Beaver Island Transit. The Charlevoix County Commission applied for a grant, but was denied. However, the commission had set aside $750,000 as matching funds. We are in the process of getting the commission to release these funds to build a 10,000 square foot facility for these above mentioned organizations. This garage will be built east of the transfer station on property owned by Peane and St James Townships.
The Charlevoix County Road Commission is on schedule to get a new road grader in 2014. Beaver Island will be eligible to obtailn the old grader. This would cost about $84,000. We are working to get the road commission to shoulder the majority of that cost.
For two years, I have discused with the road commission about doing a hard surface stabilizer for East Side Drive from Kings Highway to Welke Airport. The commission agreed to do 1/4 mile free of charge in the spring of 2013. With additional funds from the road millage, we would like to do one mile. This lignon (tree pitch) has showed great potential in the Florida everglades.
My good working relationship with the Charlevoix County Road Commission, and Peaine and St James Township boards, we can accomplish all of these goals within the next 2 years.
With the help of other board members, we will keep their feet to the fire to get these goals accomplished as soon as reasonably possible.
I NEED YOUR VOTE NOVEMBER 6, 2012.
PETE LODICO, PEAINE TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE
Rick Speck Running Write In for St. James Supervisor
It is obvious from the primary election results, that campaigning is not one of my strengths.
However, the duties and responsibilities of the St. James Township Supervisor, dovetail nicely with my education, experience and skill set.
Education: Masters of Business Administration from Wayne State University
Experience: Over 25 years as a civil servant, in the following positions:
- Treasurer of Beaver Island Community School Board of Education for 12 years, and Business Manager for 22 years.
- Treasurer or Business manager of Beaver Island Christian Church for the past 25 years.
- Treasurer of the Beaver Island Rural Health Center for the past 12 years.
- St James Township Board Trustee for 8 years and 9 months.
- St. James Township Supervisor for the past 3 years.
Skill Set: Education and extensive experience in accounting and finance;
Consistently exhibit problem analysis and leadership skills;
Highly developed negotiation and facilitation skills:
Duties and Responsibilities of Township Supervisor
- Chief administrative officer
- Chief assessing officer: Responsible for assessing property values within the Township. Certified assessors hired to perform the function are
subordinate to the Supervisor.
- Required to act as the secretary to the Board of Review.
- Fiscal responsibilities: The Supervisor is the Township's agent for transacting all legal business.
- Develops the Township budgets, for the general fund, and the Fire Dept.,
Road, Sewer, and Marina funds.
- Determines and presents the millage rates, necessary to support the budgets.
- Makes all appointments to Township commissions and committees, subject to Township Board approval.
Because of the education, skills and experiences listed above, I believe I am the best choice for Supervisor and would appreciate your write-in vote on November 6 th . My re-election will assure the citizens of St James a government of competence and continuity.
Thank you,
Rick Speck
Krys Lyle-Running for Peaine Township Clerk
Hi. I'm Krys Lyle and I m running for Peaine Township Clerk in the upcoming election. Since some of you may not know about my background and the interest, skill, and talent I bring to the position, I'm making this information available here.
Before becoming a full-time Island resident almost twenty years ago, I owned and operated a restaurant in Northern Michigan. My experience as a small business owner helped me further develop the organizational and technical skills I acquired when getting my undergraduate degree from Montana State, and my Master's degree in administration from Ferris State.
I returned from my “ out-west ” adventures in Montana because I've always loved northern Michigan — and still do. Like many Beaver Islanders, I've worked in several different places while living here, including the Lighthouse School, Community School and CMU Biological Station. Throughout this time I've been active in the Island community, working especially with the Baroque on Beaver Annual Music Festival. I currently serve as the Island Coordinator for Baroque, and have been a board member since its inception.
I've served for 12-years as a member of Peaine Township's Planning Commission, and have been the Commission's secretary for most of that time. I helped draft the Island's Master Plan and Zoning Ordinance, which required careful attention to detail and good computer skills. My technical skills also led me to become manager of the Township's webpage on the Charlevoix County Website while also maintaining the web files for all Township Committees. This experience has given me a broad view of Peaine Township policies and practices. My most recent government experience has been serving on the Beaver Island District Library Board.
As Peaine Township Clerk, I would bring organizational and technical skills to the position and would continue to update these skills by attending MTA training sessions. I would be the first clerk to hold regular office hours at the Township Hall for the public's convenience, and would keep records there for ready access by all Board members and Committee Chairs. I would prepare and make regular, accurate reports at all Township Board meetings — while also posting them immediately for public review on our Peaine Township website at www.peaine.org .
I believe fully in independent thinking to achieve common goals. I ask for your vote of confidence and hope to be your loyal servant as Peaine Township Clerk over the next four years.
BIRHC Health News for Fall 2012
An Interview with Brad Grassmick, Candidate for Peaine Trustee
Brad Grassmick Speaks 1
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Brad Grassmick Speaks 2
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Community Calendar
A completely new feature includes a monthly calendar for each month of the entire year of 2013. Please send me your events and they will be posted so others can schedule their events without conflict. Email your schedule of events to medic5740@gmail.com.
If you or your organization has an event you'd like posted on this Community Calendar, please contact me and I'll add it in. Please try to get me the information as early as possible.
Career Opportunity for Nurse Practitioner
A unique opportunity to live and work on a beautiful island located 32 miles from Charlevoix, Michigan accessible by ferry and air service
The position
• - Collaborative practice with another NP in a new beautiful health clinic
• -Clinic hours, an eight hour shift, three days a week
• -On-call coverage shared between the two practitioners who work together on developing schedules (minimal amount of monthly calls)
• -An opportunity to know and treat patients of all ages, providing primary health care, managing chronic and acute problems and developing wellness programs
• -Provide emergency services in collaboration with the EMS
• -Collaborate with off-island physician on appropriateness of care
• -Benefit Package:
• -Rural Site Qualifies for student loan repayment
The Community
• -A safe, friendly, small-town atmosphere on the largest inhabited island in the Great Lakes with a year round population of 650 and summer tourist season with a boom of thousands of visitors
• -Beach walking, hiking trails, kayaking, canoeing, snowmobiling, fishing, hunting, cross-country skiing, All Within Your Backyard!
• -Drive to work in 5-15 minutes, with no traffic
• -Family First Atmosphere, with three churches and an excellent K-12 public school with small teacher-student ratios, new building under construction and strong support in the community for funding
• -A nine-hole golf course where you can play without lines and reservations
• -Best prices on Lake Michigan frontage in the State
Beaver Island Rural Health Center
PO Box 146, Beaver Island, MI 49782
Donna Kubic, Managing Director 231-448-2275, e mail donna@birhc.org
Forestview Apartments for Rent
There are three apartments for rent at Forestview Apartments. This senior housing project is right next door to the Beaver Island Rural Health Center and right across the street from Stoney Acre Grill and Donegal Danny's Pub. The video below shows the apartment that is designed from someone who is physically handicapped or otherwise handicapped, but the other apartments have the same basic layout.
The Tax Inequity Between Individual Taxpayers in Peaine And St. James Townships
(An editorial by Joe Moore, St. James Taxpayer)
(September 26, 2012) This editorial will not focus on the correctness of property evaluations. This editorial will not focus on the length of time a taxpayer is in residence on Beaver Island. This editorial will not focus on the taxpayers ability to pay taxes. This editorial will not focus on "Why should I vote to raise taxes on my property?" This editorial will not focus on whether Peaine should or should not change its method of setting millage, even though tonight's Peaine Special Board Meeting will set millages for Peaine Township. This editorial will use simple mathematics to state and show the differences between the tax millages of St. James and Peaine Township and ask for the reason that they are not equitable on an individual taxpayer basis.
Here is the basis of the bold statement above. As a St. James taxpayer, I pay more tax for all the joint operations on Beaver Island than does the Peaine taxpayer six hundred yards south of me. I want to know why. The fire department, the EMS, the transfer station, and the airport are operations that have to be available to all Beaver Island residents. We have to be able to put out fires. We have to have someone come take care of us when we are sick or injured. We have to have a way to get rid of our trash. We have to have an airport owned publicly with public control. Hopefully none of these statements are controversial.
Right or wrong, the SEV in Peaine Township has gone up at an exponential rate even though the Peaine Board hired a state approved assessor. Right or wrong, the St. James SEV has gone up in a much more linear fashion. I am not interested in whether they should have or should have not gone up in this way. These are simply facts. Here is a graph of the SEVs, showing the SEV of both St. James and Peaine for the last several years.
Most high school students Algebra II would be able to recognize that the blue dots, representing the SEV of Peaine, most likely represents an exponential function. Most of the same students would be able to recognize that the brownish red dots most likely represent a slight increase above a linear function. They might also state the obvious, which is that the SEV in Peaine Township has been going up at a much higher rate. Again, make sure that you understand that this editorial is NOT about whether it should have or should not have. It is instead a statement of mathematical fact.
With the increase in SEV in Peaine Township, and considering two taxpayers, one in St. James and one in Peaine, the value of the property in Peaine has increased at a higher rate than the value of the property in St. James, even if they started out at the exact same value, say back in the late seventies or early eighties. The individual taxpayer in Peaine has also been paying a lower millage than the individual property owner in St. James for the last eighteen years even with the equal dollar match that is historically been in effect. Here is a graph of the lower millage rates that Peaine taxpayers have been paying over the last several years for joint operations.
The millage rates shown above are the millage rates that would have been in place if all the joint operations were millages in Peaine Township instead of some of them being taken out of general funds. These millage differences are based upon the SEV and not on taxable value because many things can happen to change taxable value. This millage rate graph shows that in the last several years, the only years where the millage rates were even close were the years in the late nineties. Each individual St. James taxpayer has been paying more millage for the same services for the last several years. Why is that not seen by everyone to be inequitable?
There are totals available related to the joint operations over the last eighteen years and based upon the millages shown in the graph above. Again, the SEV is used to calculate these numbers. Perhaps the numbers are only half as big if the taxable value was 50% of the SEV. That does not really matter if you are just trying to point out the inequity between the townships. The percentages of SEV still shown this same inequity.
This last graphic has .00018, which is more correctly written as .18 mills. What this means is that the average St. James taxpayer has been paying .18 mills more than the average Peaine taxpayer for the same jointly funded services as an average over the last eighteen years. Whetherthe total dollar amount is $150,000 or $75,000 shouldn't be the issue. The issue is that this represents a lot of money that the St. James taxpayers have been paying, and that the Peaine Township taxpayers have not been paying on an individual basis.
I want to know why Peaine taxpayers and board members consider this an equitable situation. If the fire department is called down the East Side of Beaver Island to a tree on a wire that is on fire or a grass fire or a house on fire, don't the residents of Peaine get the same fire response as a St. James taxpayer? If someone in Peaine has chest pain or is injured, doesn't this person get the same EMS response? If you have trash in Peaine, don't you have the same facility for disposal? Then why do I pay more taxes for the same access than you on an individual basis?
Some will say that St. James sets the millage in Peaine township. That is not a true statement. The Peaine Township Board sets the millage in Peaine Township. How did you determine that your fair share was based upon total dollars being equal? Inequity is inequity. What would happen if St. James Township decided to lower its millage rate? You can bet that the Peaine taxpayers and the Peaine Board would lower theirs as well. Is that equity. I can honestly say that there is not one chance in the world of having Peaine Township increase the millage rates that they pay for joint operations. Why would they do that to increase their own taxes, especially in an election year?
I have several more questions to ask. Why would a St. James taxpayer want to volunteer to provide services to a Peaine taxpayer, knowing full well that they are not paying their fair share? Why would a Peaine Board member expect that volunteer to provide the same level of service in this situation? Why are St. James taxpayers paying for the payments for a fire hall in Peaine Township?
The answers to these questions are that we are one island providing services to all islanders at the same level of service no matter where that service is provided. If you, as an individual, expect the same level of service, on an individual basis, you should pay your fair share of taxes to keep these services operational. Peaine taxpayers are not doing that because Peaine board members don't want to increase their personal property taxes. That is the only explanation that makes any sense to this St. James taxpayer.
Some will suggest that contributing the exact dollar amount to the joint operations is paying the township's fair share. These services are available to taxpayers on an individual basis. The amount paid, dollar for dollar, does not match the services being provided on an individual basis no matter what system of mathematics you use.
(The facts and figures for this editorial come directly from the Charlevoix County Equalization Department in a $60 FOIA request.)
Tax Payer Contributions by Township
This comparison chart is being presented for clarity:
Comparison of taxes paid by St. James and Peaine Taxpayers for Joint Projects for $80,000 Taxable Value
Funded agency |
St. James taxpayer pays |
Peaine taxpayer pays |
St. James taxpayer pays approximately this much more |
BI Fire Department |
.9643 x 80,000 = $77.14 | .6637 x 80,000 = $53.10 | $24.00 |
BI Rural Health Center |
2.000 x 80,000 =$160.00 |
2.000 x 80,000 = $160.00 |
same amount |
BI Airport |
0.9014 x 80,000 = $72.11 |
0.6204 x 80,000 = $49.63 |
$22.48 |
BI Transfer Station |
1.4464 x 80,000 = $115.71 |
0.9955 x 80,000 = $79.64 |
$36.72 |
BI Emergency Medical Svc |
0.9948 x 80,000 = $79.58 |
0.6847 x 80,000 = $54.78 |
$24.00 |
BI Historical Society |
0.2347 x 80,000 = $18.78 |
0.1615 x 80,000 = $12.92 |
$5.86 |
Two editorials on this subject by Joe Moore:
Equity in Tax Bills
How Serious is the Inequity
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
Funded agency |
St. James millage |
Peaine millage |
BI Fire Department |
0.9643 |
0.6637 |
BI Rural Health Center |
2.000 |
2.000 |
BI Airport |
0.9014 |
0.6204 |
BI Transfer Station |
1.4464 |
0.9955 |
BI Emergency Medical Svc |
0.9848 |
0.6847 |
BI Historical Society |
0.2347 |
0.1615 |
St James pays 6.5316 mills and Peaine pays 5.1258 mills for jointly funded operations.
St. James taxpayers pay 1.4058 mills more than Peaine taxpayers for jointly funded operations.
Why should a St. James Township property owner have to pay more tax dollars for jointly funded operations than any Peaine Township property owner?
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