B. I. News on the 'Net, October 1-7, 2012
Winner of Lighthouse Painting
The winner of the Lighthouse Painting by Lois Stipp was Skip McDonough. Congratulations, Skip! Thanks to Lois for this wonderful fundraiser! A beautiful gesture and a beautiful painting!
The Beaver Island Boodle
This is a fundraising event for the Beaver Island Sports Booster, a group that help support the Beaver Island Community School sports teams. The event started with registration and getting your teeshirt and number at the Beachcomber. Then a walk down to the starting line was in order at the public beach. The route took the boodlers down Main Street, out to Whiskey Point, and a left turn down Gull Harbor Road following all the way around to end up back by the bank. The rest of the trip was back up the main drag to the Beachcomber. The distance is described as 5K, which is about 3.1 miles.
Registration at the Beachcomber
Heading down to the public beach...
On your mark, get set, the canon boomed to start the race
Gull Harbor Road....Here they come....Hey, there, Travis...
The group of runners is spread out quite a bit...Who's that hiding behind the tree?
Lots of smiles....Hello there, Bill...Hi, Mary...
Hello, better leave and get back to get a picture of the first one across the finish line...
Travis Williams, first across the line..
Two more cross the line to cheers of the recorders...
The first event of a very full day. Great job, Sports Boosters! There were lots of satisfied runners, walkers, and bikers, all who finished the boodle. Looking forward to next year!
Video of the Boodle
Art at the Community Center
Located int he auditorium of the Beaver Island Community Center, lots of Island artists, craft makers, candle makers, and unique collections were available for the Beaver Bite and Boodle visitors and residents.
Art project for kids in the lobby......Native American jewelry collection owner.....Soy Candles
Lots of variety and lots of people checked it out
Shopping for Christmas or other holiday gifts--It was a great opportunity!
Art and Food Video
Wildlife and Game Club Presents Specialty Items
Salmon Kabobs... Lake Trout Chowder
Venison Chili.......and Squirrel in a special wine sauce
All of these items were found under the tent in front of the Power's Do-It-Best Hardware for sale by the Beaver Island Wildlife and Game Club, a locally organized club.
The Bite of Beaver Island
The Island chefs, along with visiting chefs and restaurant owners, gather in the Holy Cross Parish Hall, to provide some small portions of some very special items. For example, the Holy Cross Altar Society had meatballs. But, you have to seriously consider what kind of meatballs you wanted to try. At two or three for a dollar, it was really hard to pick which ones to try because there were so many different kinds. Barbecue meatball, buffalo meatballs, stroganoff meatballs, garlic and herb meatballs, etc.
Stoney Acre had a presence here at the Bite of Beaver also. You had to be careful because the Tiramasu is made with alcohol. The food items were delicious as well.
Here is Tammy McDonough dishing up a small pulled pork Slider. Yum!
Paradise Coffee Shop was present also providing coffee and cookies.
The new Daddy Franks owner Kathie Ehinger and friends had a table with some Islander Burger Sliders and some Mexican food too.
Heidi Vigil was there with traditional beef pasties.
The Chamber of Commerce was selling "Bite of Beaver" ball caps along with the apple cider concession.
The Shamrock was serving bison burger Sliders, the AMVETs Ladies Auxiliary were selling all kinds of pies from coconut to pineapple to walnut, cherry, and blueberry..Unfortunately, not all of the pictures were usable. What a great time was had by all! If you left the Holy Cross Hall today hungry, you just didn't want to eat. There was a variety of food items and a variety of portion sizes to please just about everyone. Another great Bite of Beaver!
The events were well attended, especially the Bite of Beaver!
Donna Fase.....Joyce and Audrey.......Mike Scripps played background music
Lots of ladies cut up apples for the old fashioned cider press. Boy was the cider tasty, and it couldn't get any fresher than squeezing it outside the door of the hall. Also outside, Bill Kohls was providing hay rides.
The Apple Pie Contest
One of the traditional parts of the Bite of Beaver is the annual apple pie contest. This year there were six entries to claim the title of "Best Apple Pie." Beaver Island EMS members Joe Moore, Danielle Dedloff, Vince Pickardt, and Kevin White were the judges at the this year's contest. The comments by the judges included "Wow, they're all great." "They all have a different taste and some have different spices." "How are we going to figure out which one is best?" Scoring sheets were provided by Elaine West along with glasses of water to "cleanse the pallet between bites."
Here are the possible choices in picture to see what the judges were up against.
Here are three of the four judges sampling the pies and scoring each one.
Elaine West was observing and waiting for the judges decision.
Second place in the Apple Pie Contest goes to Pam Campbell. First place, along with bragging rights for the next entire year, was won by Mary Dawson. Mary didn't even know that her pie had been entered into the contest.
Congratulations, Mary!
The two pies were then auctioned off to benefit the Beaver Island Christian Church Women's Circle. Each pie went for thirty-five dollars at auction.
Video of the Apple Pie Contest
2012 UPEMS BIEMS Presentation on Air Medical Transport
Joe Moore, former director of Beaver Island EMS, was invited to make a presentation at the Upper Peninsula Emergency Medical Services conference in Marquette, Michigan, on the last Friday of September 2012. This presentation included the 32 Miles of Water video, copyright 2004, by Philip Michael Moore. It also included a video of the landing of a USCG helicopter at night at the Township Airport, and a video by current BIEMS Executive Director Danielle Dedloff with a portion of the presentation created by Danielle. This two hour presentation was well received even though it was the last presentation of the day. Those present were from all different walks of life including EMS providers from below the bridge as well as throughout the UP and a CCE dispatcher and a few paramedic instructors. The twenty-four who received this presentation were fascinated by rural EMS on the most remote inhabited island in the Great Lakes. Ten out of the twenty-four stayed well beyond the two-hour presentation to ask questions, offer suggestions, and ask for contact information for BIEMS.
You can watch all the video including the presentation HERE
Beautiful Whiskey Point
Deer by Barney's Lake
Several deer crossed the road at the top of Barney's Lake hill right in front of the car. The driver was frightened by the closeness of these deer. Pulling ahead slowly, several more crossed the road. This time they crossed behind the car. These pictures were taken as the car was stopped, and the driver got out of the vehicle to be amazed at the number of deer in this group, as well as the closeness of these deer to the human being holding the camera.
Heron in the Harbor
These haven't been seen for a while.
Eagle Tree at Gull Harbor
First time in a long time, the camera and the eagle in the same place at the same time
Red Tree on West Side
Down the West Side Road, the tree that is red is in full color (Thanks to Bob Tidmore for this picture)
Peaine Special Millage Setting Meeting 9/26/12
NATIONAL FAMILY PARTNERSHIP AND DEA JOIN FORCES FOR 2012 RED RIBBON WEEK
YOUTH DRUG PREVENTION CAMPAIGN: THE BEST ME IS DRUG FREE
NATIONAL CONTEST TARGETS TEN REGIONS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES
- Ten schools from across the U.S. will win $1,000 grant for drug prevention -
- Ten families will win an iPad for the home -
The National Family Partnership (NFP) announces the national contest for its 27th annual Red Ribbon Week, Oct. 23-31. Red Ribbon Week is the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in the country. In 1985 after the murder of a DEA agent, parents, youth and teachers in communities across the country began wearing Red Ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to raise awareness of the destruction caused by drugs. This year, families can get involved by entering a contest to promote awareness in their neighborhoods and win a drug prevention grant for their schools.
Families can enter Red Ribbon Week's contest to win a $1,000 grant for their school and a new iPad for their home. To participate in the contest families and students will decorate the front of their homes with this year's message: The Best Me Is Drug Free
Here's how students and their families can enter to win $1,000 for their K-12 school and a new iPad:
- Students bring the Red Ribbon Week message home by working alongside parents to decorate their front door, mailbox, fence, etc. with this year's theme The Best Me Is Drug Free
- Take a photo with the family and their Red Ribbon Week decoration, then upload to www.redribbon.org/contest or www.facebook.com/ RedRibbonWeek by Nov. 2 (must be parents or 18+ to upload photos).
- The voting begins! Ask family and friends to vote for your entry at www.redribbon.org/vote Nov. 2-16. Ten lucky winners from regions across the U.S. will win. Winners will be announced at events at their winning schools in December.
"Students will once again take Red Ribbon Week's message of prevention home to their neighborhoods with this national contest," said the NFP's Volunteer President Peggy Sapp. "By decorating their homes together with this year's Red Ribbon theme, families carry the message to their communities." The nation's oldest and largest drug prevention campaign reaches more than 80 million people nationwide.
The DEA is co-sponsoring this year's national contest. "DEA is excited to partner with the National Family Partnership on this contest that empowers communities to come together to talk about the drug problem," said DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart. "Red Ribbon Week is also when we honor DEA Special Agent Enrique 'Kiki' Camarena, who made the ultimate sacrifice to keep our communities safe."
Adds the NFP's Peggy Sapp: "Take the Red Ribbon Week pledge across America to help children grow up safe, healthy and drug free." Visit www.redribbon.org/contest for contest information.
St. James Township Board Meeting Video
This meeting took place on October 4, 2012, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the St. James Township Hall. The meeting video is available at the link below:
Debbie Higdon's Daughter Samantha in the Fashion News
Her name is Samantha Drew. She never lived on Beaver Island, but her mother and her grandmother and grandfather have previously lived on Beaver Island for quite a few years. Dan and Joyce Higdon lived on Beaver Island, and Debbie and Sheila went to school here. Samantha is a wonderfully beautiful model in the fashion world and the following website suggests that she has overcome a pretty difficult experience, just as her mom and dad have as well. Take a look at her website and spend a few moments. BINN is sure that you will appreciate this Beaver Island grandchild of the Higdons.
Double Volleyball Match Against Ojibwe
The video for both matches is available on BINN for all subscribers. There have been a couple of questions recently that need to be answered. Feel free to pass this information on to anyone you think might be interested.
Currently, those games that can be broadcast live, using live streaming video on the Internet, are available to anyone in the world by going to http://beaverisland.tv. If you aren't able to watch the video live, then BINN is currently also recording the video for view after the event is completed. The on-demand video take a fairly large amount of time to process, upload, and make available. For this investment of time, BINN only makes this video available to subscribers. If you are interested in viewing the on-demand video, the yearly cost of website subscription is $40 for family access. If you are not interested in this option, you can also subscribe to the website for three months of the year for $15. Your subscription can be renewed or begun online at /http://beaverislandnews.com/Subscription%20page.htm where you can subscribe yearly as an individual or a business; or you can subscribe for three months as an individual.
This video has some of the younger players participating, and they might want to watch to see how they did after the event is over, and parents may have missed the games, so they can see it also.
View BI versus Ojibwe video HERE
NEWS NEWS NEWS from the Chamber
You can listen to the WJR Detroit Beaver Island radio interview at the link below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUeUSri2OgA
Steve West did a wonderful job on this interview, and certainly put Beaver Island into the mix of fall destinations!
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
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Colleen Sue Currier, The Flower Lady of Charlevoix DiesColleen Sue Currier, “The Flower Lady”, of Charlevoix, died Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012, at Boulder Park Terrace in Charlevoix. She was born April 21, 1961, in Detroit and was raised by her parents, Desmond P. and Margaret “Peggy” I. (Left) Currier in Birmingham. She graduated from Seaholm High School in 1979. She moved with her family to Charlevoix, and attended Northern Michigan University. After college, Colleen lived in Saint Petersburg, Fla. for a short time before returning home to Charlevoix. Colleen worked in several flower shops before opening her own shop in Charlevoix, Floral Designs By Colleen, that she ran for over fifteen years. She was a member of Saint Mary's Catholic Church in Charlevoix. Colleen is survived by her siblings, Irene (Richard) Tanghe, Charlotte Currier, Maureen (Paul) Court, Joseph Currier, William (Maggie) Currier, and Vincent (Kim) Currier; many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews; and all of her wonderful friends. Colleen's long time boyfriend, Gary Cross, preceded her in death on March 31, 2011. A Rite of Christian Burial will be 1:30pm, Friday, October 5, at Saint Mary's Church in Charlevoix, the Reverend Matthew Wigton officiating. Visitation will be from 6-8:00 pm, Thursday, at the Winchester Funeral Home in Charlevoix where the Rosary will be recited at 8:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Holy Cross Cemetery, P.O. Box 357. Beaver Island, MI 49782. Those wanting to share a memory of Colleen, or condolences, may do so at www.winchesterfuneralhome.com
Lady Islanders Win Against Ojibwe
Kitty McNamara, principal introduced the players and the coaches In a double match scheduled today, October 1, 2012, the Lady Islanders won both matches, the first 3-0, and the second 3-0. The Ojibwe Lady Eagles had a rough time against the serving of Olivia Cary, Madie Martin, Marissa Crandall, and Hannah Robert, but they also had a hard time getting motivated to go after the underhand serves as well.
Olivia hits and ACE....Youngers in the game.....Marissa with an ACE
Sarah ready......Two Islanders serving, one overhand, one underhand
Ready for a serve....Two excellent overhand servers
Good game, good game, good game The Ojibwe team had a few positive points as they were learning how to get three hits on their side of the net. They also had some booming serves by a couple of young ladies who had overhand serves. No matter what, the Ojibwe team had a good time, and lots of laughs were had on their side of the net. The Islanders were more business than fun with a run of close to sixteen points off of Olivia's serves. Many other of the Islanders had runs of many serves as well. The Ojibwe Eagles were not much of a challenge, and at points throughout the games in both matches, the Islanders did not return volleys that were not that difficult.
Spectators file in..... Some discuss the first match..
All ready.... servers...
More pictures
Score of the last game in the last match The games were streamed live.
Pete LoDico Running for Re-Election
Rick Speck Running Write In for St. James SupervisorIt 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:
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
subordinate to the Supervisor.
Road, Sewer, and Marina funds.
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
Fall Colors Are Beautiful
Photographs from the airplane on Thursday, September 27, 2012, of Beaver Island. Thanks, Neil! On a trip up to the upper penninsula and back last weekend, the fall colors were almost at the peak of the season. It was obvious that many opportunites to see the fall colors were presented. Hope you enjoy them!
You can probably tell that the red ones are the favorites.
Just one gorgeous drive....
B-I-N-G-O!Bingo is returning to Beaver Island! Beaver Island Christian Church will host what they hope will be the FIRST OF MANY enjoyable Wednesday evenings on October 17, 2012, at the Gregg Fellowship Center. Current plans are for bingo games on the first and third Wednesdays of the winter months (no bingo on November 19). Start time is 7:00 p.m.. More details later.
Lady Islanders Win NLL Volleyball Tournament
Today, September 29, 2012, the Lady Islanders have won the Northern Lights League Volleyball Tournament on a over and back set of flights to the Soo. Congratulations, Ladies!
Krys Lyle-Running for Peaine Township ClerkHi. 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.
No Live Streaming This Past WeekendBINN is sad to report that there will be no live streaming video of the Northern Lights League Volleyball Tournament taking place in the Soo on Saturday. The one thing that live streaming needs to be successful is Internet access, and there was no reponse from the technology person at the school. This is an unfortunate situation considering the wonderful response to the games on the Island. Hopefully, BINN will have the opportunity to do this again since it was so popular, but it will not be possible for this weekend. Sorry!
BICS Seeks Girls Basketball Coach
Claire Cull, March 23, 1926-September 26, 2012
Roberta Claire Cull, Beaver Island, MI (Formerly of Bay City, MI) Mrs. Cull died Wednesday, September 26, 2012 at her daughter's home in Bay City. She was surrounded by her loving family. Mrs. Cull was 86 years old. She was born on Beaver Island on March 23, 1926, the daughter of the late Carl and Consuella Left. Mrs. Cull is survived by 9 of her 10 children, R. Dale (Nancy) Cull, R. Dennis Cull and his special friend Noel Eichorn, Carly (Bill) Bell, Bonnie Rice, Mary (Dave) VanDenBosch, Jim (Cissy) Cull, Julie (Mike) Cherry, Peggy (Gary) Bowersock and John Cull and his special friend Linda Serva; one brother, Francis “Buddy” Left; three sisters-in-law, Nancy Cull, Sally Hammermister and Lillian Left; one brother-in-law, Roland Cull; 23 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and a loving best friend, Lorraine Helmick who cared for her in her final years. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Cull was also preceded in death by her husband, Captain Raymond Cull; a son, Captain Michael Cull; three sisters, Ann Driggers, Carlene Runberg and Sue Hogan; and one brother, Butch Left. A Vigil Service will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, September 28, 2012 at the Gephart Funeral Home, Inc. in Bay City, with Sr. Joanne Toohey, O.P. officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will take place at Holy Cross Catholic Church on Beaver Island on Monday, October 1, 2012. Burial will be in Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Beaver Island Historical Society. The Cull family would like to extend their appreciation to their dear friend, Dr. Anne Connaghan. www.gephartfuneralhome.com
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Announcements |
(The following was submitted by Lisa Welke, Beaver Island Phragmites Coordinator, 231-448-3164, Welke65@gmail.com)
INVASIVE SPECIES COALITION
On Tuesday, September 25, I had the opportunity to attend the Michigan Invasive Species Coalition in Gaylord. There were representatives from all over the state and many different levels of involvement. The acronyms were everywhere, DNR, DEQ, TNC, USFWS, MDOT, MDA, MSU, just to name a few. Whether it was a grass-roots organization or a state-wide head of the department, we all came together for the same purpose: to share ideas, successesm and failures and to work collectively on the problem of invasive species.
While preparing for the meeting (with Pam Grassmick's help), I assumed that our input would be rather insignificant since we are a small, remote location. I was wrong. The program for the Beaver Archipelago is far advanced compared to the rest of the state. They are battling on a somewhat random basis without the extensive mapping that we are so fortunate to have.
When I told them that we had a survey of 6000 acres which included 23 invasive species this year, they were amazed. The joint townships, Beaver Island Association, the many generous organizations and most of all, the people of Beaver Island have a right to be proud of our program.
The main theme statewide seems to be EDRR, Early Detection Rapid Response. I believe that we have this covered on Beaver Island but we must be very vigilant. There were some real horror stories of Phragmites that grow through pavement and Japanese Knotweed that grows into foundations and breaks it apart.
Another main topic covered was right-of-ways on roads. The representatives from MDOT said that they don't have a lot of control because so much of their maintenance is hired out to private contractors. They suggested that individual counties work with their road commissions on education and early detection. Care needs to be taken when mowing, such as cleaning mowers, to stop the spread of invasives. This will be difficult statewide but should be manageable for Beaver Island.
The meeting was educational, gave contact information for many helpful agencies and was a proud day for Beaver Island.
Lisa Welke
Beaver Island EMS and Island Airways Reach Agreement on Air Ambulance Services
September 24, 2012
Today the Beaver Island EMS and Island Airways (McPhillips Flying Service, Inc. dba Island Airways) signed a one-year agreement for the provision of fixed wing air medical transport services for Beaver Island.
BIEMS is licensed for air transport service at the Advanced Life Support level. The agreement specifies how and when the service will be available, as well as the method of compensation for the service being provided. A copy of the agreement will be posted when it becomes available.
This agreement is the culmination of several years of hard work by all parties involved. In July 2012, Island Airways was issued FAA operation specification A024 – Air ambulance operations – airplane. Also in July 2012, the legislature of the State of Michigan passed Senate Bill 995 which lowered the required liability insurance from $10 million to $2 million for the air transport operation on Beaver Island. The complete text of this bill can be found at http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2011-2012/publicact/pdf/2012-PA-0269.pdf . In August 2012, the State of Michigan approved the addition of Island Airways' Britten Norman Islander N866JA to the BIEMS list of approved vehicles.
Senate Bill 995 was sponsored by Senator Howard Walker and Representative Greg MacMaster. These two legislators worked tirelessly on this bill for over one year.
Special thanks to Rick Speck (St. James Township Supervisor) and Jack Gallagher (Peaine Township Supervisor) for their assistance with and facilitation of this agreement. Danielle Dedloff, Executive Director of the BIEMS was also instrumental in this process. She actively pursued State of Michigan licensing for the airplane on the BIEMS license.
About Beaver Island EMS
Beaver Island EMS is a small, rural EMS agency that is supported by the St. James and Peaine Townships. Beaver Island EMS was established in 1986 when we got our first Basic Life Support Ambulance. The first Basic EMT class was held in 1985. BIEMS became an Advanced Life Support agency in 2000. We are a volunteer organization that consists of one year round Paramedic at this time, one Specialist, eight Basic EMT's and five Medical First Responders. On average we do about 100 calls a year and about 40 percent of the patients are flown off the island for further evaluation and care. BIEMS works closely with the Beaver Island Rural Health Center to provide the best possible patient care here on the island.
About Island Airways
McPhillips Flying Service, Inc. (MFS) was established in 1945 by the McPhillips family. In the early 1980s the Welke family purchased the business which is today known at Island Airways. Island Airways is based on and operates from Welke Airport on Beaver Island , Michigan . MFS provides daily air service between Beaver Island and Charlevoix , Michigan . In addition to daily passenger / freight service, MFS provides charter services all over the Midwest and FAA certified aviation repair services.
Contact:
To learn more about medical air transport services on Beaver Island , contact:
Island Airways, Angela LeFevre-Welke, President, 231 547 2141 telephone angel@islandairways.com
Danielle Dedloff, Executive Director, BIEMS, 231 448 2578 telephone, beaverislandems@gmail.com
BIRHC Health News for Fall 2012
Special Meeting of St. James Township Board
Video of the meeting HERE
K and M wins lowest bid for replacement of roof on St. James Township Hall.
NRESC recommended appointees approved.
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BICS Sports Booster Fundraising--Order Your Shirt Here
Click on picture or HERE to print your form
Ice Cream Social Planned for Wellness Garden and Forestview Apartments
Sunday, October 7th, from 12 noon- 2pm marks the date and time of our annual garden walk and tour of the Wellness Garden at BIRHC and the senior apts and grounds. Many islanders have had a very bustling summer and were unable to attend the Wellness Garden Benefit and/or the Anniversary Event at Forestview in July. This is your chance to come visit the gardens and apartments before winter sets in.
We have started the Peace Garden thanks to Heidi Vigil (BI Gardens) and her plan has been enhanced by her plantings and the help of generous donors and volunteer gardeners. Lance Olsen, our blacksmith extraordinaire, has donated a Peace Symbol from which we will hang a wind catcher. Also an angel has been donated from Sandy Latimer. Mary Scholl has given a flowering cherry tree.
We added some decor and more flowers to Gail Weede's honorary garden designed by Cheryl Podgorski (Stick, Stones, Feathers and Bones). This includes a beautiful bench from Livingstone Studio, designed and painted by artist Sue Thomson.
We also have additional delightful stepping stones from our BICS Rangers, in the Fairy Garden. The generosity of Dale and Terry Keyes (Paradise Bay Cafe) has brought us a rock lighthouse (honoring our BI Fairy Godmother Tina Walker) to add to the area, as well as landscape fairy silhouettes from Judy Boyle. Pam O'Brien (Bloomers) has added a beautiful birdbath and more perennials to our Pink Garden, and thanks to BJ Wyckoff we have another round of crocus bulbs to put in for spring color!
Marianne Weaver's Butterfly Garden got an additional pop with the donation of Ellie Hahn's blue glass cascading birdbath (Thanks Sue Solle). We also now have plans for a new flagpole donated and placed in the front parking lot of the BIRHC, courtesy of Joe and Marilyn Reed. Thank you!!
Many other touches have been added by donors as well as our new garden volunteers. Thanks to Janet Paul, Peggy Davis, Dana D'Andraia, Janet Nank, Maryjean Pike, Judy Jones, Cary Johnson, Pam Moxham, Karen Whitecraft, Barb Spencer, and numerous others, we finally have some hours being spent on weeding, deadheading and planting.
Ellie's Walk is in the works, with the help of Ed Leuck and John Gordon and the CMU students. The help of Pete LoDico, Jerry LaFreniere, Garrett Cole, Jeff Powers, Jim Wojan, Bob Marsh, and Branden Maudrie was much needed and appreciated. We would love some more helpers to handle the additional caring for the new Forestview plantings. So if you have a bit of a green thumb please join us by calling Connie (2379) or Leonor(2894). Otherwise, hope to see you at our Appreciation Event!
Stoney Acres will have hotdogs, and cash drinks, Forestview will be serving up ice cream, courtesy of Daddy Franks. Stop in after Sunday services, and say hello. See you there!
Connie Wojan, Leonor Jacobson, and Theresa McDonough.
Phone Scams in Charlevoix County
Sheriff W.D. (Don) Schneider would like to inform citizens of Charlevoix County of some recent scams being reported. The latest one, which is rather upsetting, is a telephone call from subjects posing as representing a collections company. When the citizen speaks with them, they advise money is owed and then ask for account numbers and personal information. Never discuss account numbers or personal information over the phone.
The other scam is also upsetting to receive, subject(s) call to advise a family member (usually grandchild visiting another country) is in trouble or has had an accident and is in need of money sent to them. Please always check with your local law enforcement prior to sending any funds so the emergency situation can be thoroughly checked out. Several citizens have sent thousands of dollars and the information was not true and the victim of scam could not recover their money.
There are many forms of telephone, mail and e-mail scams so citizens should be on guard when receiving any suspicious phone calls, mail or e-mail, especially telephone calls because of pressure by the suspect caller.
Sunday Evening Storm Photos
...............A little rainbow piece.....Clouds on the horizon.....Looking south at the building clouds
Beautiful clouds, rain or not..
Water Level Is DOWN Tonight
Taking a little walk down in front of the condos on the beach known to some as Archie's Cabins pointed out the amount of sand visible on this night of September 23, 2012. It looks almost like the tide going out on a sandy beach in Maine. The only difference is that in Maine the tide will come in. On Beaver Island there is not tide coming in. The lower water levels are 'normal' according to those that subscribe to the high/low water cycle theory. Take a look at these photos, and you decide:
Water level down quite a bit from even earlier in the summer
This young lady has quite an imagination. How to spend an early Sunday eveinng on Beaver Island? Let's take out our bike and pedal from one sand bar to another. This was the most creative thing that the editor has seen in a long time. Way to go, Grace!
Pedaling from one sandbar to another and then in toward the beach.
New Shamrock Senior Menu for Fall 2012
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...
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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Peaine Township Board Meeting Video of September, 12, 2012
Video of the meeting viewed HERE
Why Does Verizon Want to Tear Down the Kings Highway BIFD/BIEMS Tower?
AT and T on the left.....Emergency Services tower in the middle.....Verizon tower on right
Donegal Bay Road Emergency Tower Not Working
CCE Emergency Dispatch has not repaired this equipment on the Donegal Bay tower.
Bite of Beaver Island Oct 6th
Important Change - Bite will be Noon to 3:00
Only three Chef Tables remain un-sold.
Letter to the Editor
Clarification of Facts from Previous Events Regarding the NREC
Upon receiving an e-mail from Russ Mason stating that both townships had endorsed “wildlife certification”, I asked Supervisor Gallagher to write Russ Mason to correct the record and inform the DNR that the information they had received that the township boards had approved “wildlife certification” was erroneous. Indeed QDM had been endorsed but wildlife certification had not been brought to the township boards for approval. In fact, there never had been a document called wildlife certification developed by the DNR.
We on the Natural Resources Ecotourism Commission received apologies from members of the DNR including Russ Mason and Brent Rudolph for passing along misleading information. At the regular township meeting where Supervisor Gallagher addressed his letter's statements, line by line, the Peaine board had no further comments on this issue and agreed that all of Gallagher's comments were factually accurate. Ultimately due to Gallagher's letter, correcting the misinformation that had been supplied to the DNR in Lansing meetings, the hunters of the island received their Antler Point Restriction designation.
As to the dissolution of the NREC, the community and the townships recognized the value and re-created an organization, NRESC, to take up the vitally important matter of protecting our natural resources for the Island's economic benefit.
I know that this election year is filled with passion but let's get the facts correct, move forward and deal with the real issues that affect the quality of life for our community.
Pam Grassmick
211 Service in Operation in Charlevoix County
Full of Flavor & Color on Beaver Island
( BEAVER ISLAND , Mich ) – The weekend of October 6 will be among the most colorful, recreational and flavorful on Beaver Island .
Beginning at 10am at the historic Print Shop, the Island Boodle 5k Run takes participants through scenic St. James, along the waterfront and back through wooded trails during one of the most beautiful times of year. Benefitting Island Sports Boosters, the event draws serious runners as well as families, many with babies in strollers and four-legged friends.
The boodle is started with a canon firing from a Civil War replica canon. It's for runners, walkers, and bikers.
As Mother Nature paints the trees in vibrant shades of reds, yellows and oranges, the island's amateur and professional chefs will be serving up tasteful samples of seasonal treats during the 11 th Annual Bite of Beaver Island Food Festival . Enjoy bite size bits of everything from soups and pizzas and other specialty fare, all at affordable prices. Activities will be held from 1-4pm at the Holy Cross Hall.
The Holy Cross Hall gets packed with those wanting to try the many delicacies.
Also part of the day's festivities is an Arts & Crafts Show will take place at the Community Center from 11am-4pm and an “Apple Pie Contest” at Holy Cross Hall at 1:30pm. During the evening, the island's pubs will be offering live music and entertainment.
Once on the island – whether participating in the Boodle or Bite of Beaver – visitors will find plenty of fall colors and natural activity to keep busy. The West Michigan Tourist Association features a Beaver Island Color Tour Route as one of 26 on its website:
Starting at the ferry dock in downtown St. James, turn right at the Ace Hardware. Turn left at the top of the hill onto The Kings Highway heading south out of town. Turn left on McCauley's Road. Turn right on East Side Drive. At the south end of the island it becomes West Side . Don't forget to stop and visit the Lighthouse just before Iron Ore Bay . Cross the 4-way intersection onto Paid Een Ogs Road . Turn left onto The Kings Hwy back to town.
Beaver Island's fall colors are spectacular and occur a little later than on the mainland because of the temperature moderation brought about by Lake Michigan, says Steve West, Director of the Beaver Island Chamber of Commerce. By early October, colors should be making a spectacular show – just in time for the Island Boodle and Bite of Beaver.
Overnight rooms during the fall season on Beaver Island start at $75/night and Oak Wood Condos is offering two-bedroom suites (with kitchen and living areas) starting at $95/night.
Getting to Beaver Island is easy. The Beaver Island Boat Company runs through December, with limited runs in the early and late season. The 32-mile ride takes approximately two hours. Participants of the Island Boodle can get a discounted fare – at just $40/roundtrip for adults and $20/roundtrip for children. Fresh Air Aviation and Island Airways also both provide plane service to the island. All three services operate out of Charlevoix.
Those searching for a truly removed up-north destination will find it on Beaver Island , one of the purist four-season vacation destinations in Michigan . When it comes to natural escapes, nothing compares to America 's Emerald Isle – Beaver Island . For more information, call 231-448-2505 or log onto www.BeaverIsland.org .
Beaver Island Volleyball Schedule 2012
(Home Game**)
OCTOBER 6 BEAVER ISLAND @MACKINAC ISLAND VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT
OCTOBER 12 BEAVER ISLAND @ MACKINAC ISLAND 7:00 PM
OCTOBER 13 BEAVER ISLAND @ MACKINAC ISLAND 8:30 AM
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